Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Mississippi Armed Forces Museum

Front facade 2021
Established	2001
Location	Camp Shelby
Visitors	50,000 per year

The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum is a special place located at Camp Shelby. This is about 12 miles (19 km) south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This museum is the official military history museum for the state of Mississippi. It's part of a bigger group called the Army Museum System.

Why Visit the Museum?
How the Museum Grew
What You Can See at the Museum
- Inside the Galleries
- Outdoor Exhibits
Gallery
See also

Why Visit the Museum?

The main goal of the museum is to honor and remember the brave men and women from Mississippi. These are people who have served in all parts of the military. It celebrates their service and the sacrifices they made for their country.

How the Museum Grew

Starting Small

The museum began in 1984 thanks to two military veterans. They started it with their own collection of items from wars. Back then, the museum was just a small room inside a warehouse at Camp Shelby.

A New Home

In 2001, a much larger building was finished for the museum. This new building was about 23,000 square feet (2,137 square meters). It had 16,000 square feet (1,486 square meters) of space just for exhibits. The museum also held 17,000 artifacts, 4,500 military history books, and 2,000 historical documents.

Big Expansion

The museum closed in February 2015 for a major expansion. This project added 7,500 more square feet (697 square meters) of space. It also created three new exhibit areas. Older exhibits were also updated and made better. The museum officially reopened its doors on October 27, 2016. The Governor of Mississippi was there for the reopening.

What You Can See at the Museum

Inside the Galleries

Inside the museum building, there are eight different areas called galleries. Each gallery focuses on a different time period or conflict. You can see exhibits about:

Late 19th-century conflicts
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Desert Storm
Global War on Terrorism
Medal of Honor

You will find military weapons, equipment, clothing, and medals on display.

Outdoor Exhibits

Outside the museum, there are even more things to see. These include real aircraft, tanks, and field artillery. There are also special memorials to remember those who served.