Marine Corps Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1940 (at Marine Corps Base Quantico) |
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| Location | 1940–1960 Little Hall Marine Corps Base Quantico Quantico, Virginia 1960–1976 Building 1019 Marine Corps Base Quantico 1977–2005 Marine Corps Historical Center Building 58 Washington Navy Yard 9th and M Streets Washington, DC United States |
| Type | Military History |
The Marine Corps Museum was a special place that showed the history of the U.S. Marines. It was located in Washington, D.C., at the Washington Navy Yard. The museum had many exhibits with real items, called artifacts, from the Marines' past. It also displayed art about the Marines and featured a historical "Time Tunnel" for visitors to explore.
For many years, this museum was very important. It helped keep the stories and achievements of the Marines alive. The Marine Corps Museum closed its doors on July 1, 2005. This happened as a new, bigger museum, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, was being created.
Contents
History of the Museum
In the early 1900s, the Marine Corps already had some historical items. These included captured weapons and flags. They were kept in special rooms at the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Starting the First Museum
In 1940, the Marines decided to create an early version of a museum. This "proto-museum" was set up at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. It was a small start to what would become a larger collection.
A New Exhibit at the Smithsonian
Later, in 1952, the leader of the Marine Corps, General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., noticed something. There was no special display about the Marines at the famous Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He asked his team to fix this.
Major John H. Magruder III was a Marine reservist. He was given the job of creating this new exhibit at the Smithsonian. He worked hard to put together a display that would tell the Marines' story.
Expanding the Museum
After the Smithsonian exhibit was finished, Major Magruder helped create an even bigger museum. This expanded Marine Corps Museum opened on September 13, 1960. It was located in a different building at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
The museum continued to grow over the years. Eventually, it needed an even larger space. So, in 1977, the Marine Corps Museum moved to the Washington Navy Yard. The Quantico location closed in 1976 to prepare for this big move.
Images for kids
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Dedication of the Marine Corps Museum at Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1960.
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Displays at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico.
