African American Military History Museum facts for kids
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African American Military History Museum
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African American Military History Museum in 2012
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 305 East Sixth Street, Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 hectares) |
| Built | 1942 |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000267 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 06, 2004 |
The African American Military History Museum in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is a special place. It opened on May 23, 2009. This building was first built in 1942. It was a USO Club for African American soldiers. These soldiers were serving at Camp Shelby during World War II. The building is important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It also became a Mississippi Landmark in 2010.
Contents
What the Museum Looks Like
The East Sixth Street USO building was very special. It was built just for African American soldiers. This happened soon after the United States joined World War II. Both Black and White people in Hattiesburg supported it.
The building is shaped like a "T". It is made of wood. Inside, there was a large room called an auditorium. There was also a stage, a lobby, and restrooms. It had dressing rooms and meeting rooms too. A brick chimney was in the center. The auditorium was about 34 feet by 55 feet. The stage was raised 3 feet above the floor. It measured about 20 feet by 22 feet.
A Look Back: The Museum's Story
The USO Club Years
From 1942 to 1946, this building was a "home away from home." It was for African American soldiers. They were stationed at Camp Shelby. The USO Club was a place for them to relax and have fun. Soldiers could read books in the library. They could use a darkroom for photos. There was a lounge to hang out in. They could also get advice and listen to music. The club offered mail service and religious books. There was even a sewing service.
Becoming a Museum
Before it became the African American Military History Museum, the building was called the N.R. Burger Center. It was a museum and community space. It honored African American soldiers. It showed historical papers, items, and photos.
The building was updated to become the museum. This work finished in 2009. The old USO auditorium was divided into different areas. Each area showed exhibits about military history. You can learn about many wars there. These include the Revolutionary War and World War I. There are exhibits on World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. You can also see displays on Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism. There is a special "Hattiesburg Hall of Honor." Between 2009 and 2012, about 13,000 people visited the museum.
Tornado Damage and Reopening
On February 10, 2013, a very strong tornado hit Hattiesburg. The museum's roof was badly damaged. Rain soaked many exhibits and important items. Museum staff thought the building would be closed for at least a year. They moved the museum's items to a safe place.
After a year of rebuilding, the museum reopened. This happened on February 6, 2014. The tornado caused a lot of damage. It cost about $450,000 to fix the building. It cost another $600,000 to fix or replace the museum's contents.
See also
