Sitting atop dad's shoulders, four-year-old Riley Gleeson was having the time of his life on Saturday as he examined all sorts of aircraft towering above him.
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While dad Mitch was fascinated with the V2 rocket, he said both he and his son were surprised at just how big the exhibition elements were in real life.
The Australian War Memorial opened up its enormous purpose-built storage hub in Mitchell to the public on Saturday as part of an annual tradition, with young and old attracted to the event.
The Big Things show presented some of Australia's national treasures, including tanks, artillery, rockets and aircraft used by or against Australians in war for over a century.
Mr Gleeson said it was the second time he and his family had visited the annual exhibition.
"They have a lot of hidden treasures that aren't normally on show, and obviously having a four-year-old, he loves all that stuff," he said.
"Riley was most interested in the aeroplanes; anything that flies actually.
"It was quite surprising for him."
Mr Gleeson said his personal favourite was the Caribou plane and the V2 rocket.
"Just the size of [the rocket], I didn't think it was that big, and the destruction it was capable of."
Mr Gleeson said the exhibition was one of very few on the Gungahlin side of town, which was convenient for his family who lived in Franklin.
"We try to go to things that are kid-friendly. It is one of the best things about Canberra, all the open days," he said.
The Big Things open day also attracted southsiders, including history buff Lyle Lollback.
Mr Lollback was thrilled to view the exhibition, which brought back memories of his work with the Australian War Memorial almost 60 years ago.
"I worked there for two years from 1957," Mr Lollback said.
"It was such a long time ago, and things have changed. There was nothing like this [warehouse] when I was working there, this stuff was all stored in Nissen huts at Duntroon."
Mr Lollback said the memories came flooding back as he walked in to view the exhibition.
Accompanied by his adult son, Mr Lollback said it was special for Canberrans to have a glimpse of the past in this way.
Normally well-hidden from public view, the Big Things exhibition provided a rare chance for Canberrans to experience one of the world's greatest military collections.
