National Museum of the Marine Corps facts for kids
Seal of the National Museum of the Marine Corps
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| Established | November 10, 2006 |
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| Location | 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, Virginia, U.S. |
| Type | Military History |
| Public transit access | none |
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a special place that tells the history of the United States Marine Corps. It's located in Triangle, Virginia, close to Marine Corps Base Quantico. The museum first opened its doors on November 10, 2006. Today, it's one of Virginia's most popular spots, with over 500,000 visitors each year! In July 2013, the museum shared plans to make itself even bigger. These plans included new areas about more recent Marine Corps history, like a gallery for combat art and a section about the Global War on Terrorism.
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About the Museum's History
This museum took the place of two older museums. One was the Marine Corps Historical Center in the Washington Navy Yard, which closed in 2005. The other was the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum in Quantico, Virginia, which closed in 2002.
The museum is a team effort between the United States Marine Corps and a group called the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The Foundation helps run the museum. The museum building itself was given to the Marine Corps.
The museum was designed by Curtis W. Fentress. Its outside look is meant to remind people of the famous image of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima. This image is also shown on the USMC War Memorial. A copy of the "Iron Mike" statue, which is at Marine Corps Base Quantico, stands outside the museum's main entrance.
The museum is very large, about 100,000 square feet. It is open to everyone, and you can visit for free!
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is a private group that started in 1979. It helps support the history programs of the Marine Corps. In 1999, this group decided to also focus on creating the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
The Heritage Center Campus
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the main part of a larger area called the Marine Corps Heritage Center. This big campus covers about 135 acres. It includes the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park and the Semper Fidelis Chapel. There's also an area for demonstrations and parades. You can find hiking trails and other outdoor activities there too. The campus also has a conference center, a hotel, and a special building to keep and protect Marine artifacts.
The chapel was also designed by Fentress Architects. It was finished in 2009. A retired Marine donated $5 million to help build it.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The museum has many interesting exhibits. These exhibits were designed by Christopher Chadbourne and Associates. Some of the main exhibits include:
- Leatherneck Gallery
- Legacy Walk
- Making Marines
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
On June 5, 2010, three more exhibits opened. These covered earlier periods of Marine Corps history:
- Defending a New Nation (1775–1865)
- Age of Expansion (1866–1916)
- World War I (1917–1918)
On October 6, 2024, the final part of the museum opened. This new section shows Marine Corps history from 1976 up to today. It includes events like Desert Storm, humanitarian missions, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan.
You can also see a statue of a horse named Sergeant Reckless. This horse served with the Marine Corps during the Korean War. The statue was officially shown to the public on July 26, 2013.
The museum also has classrooms, a theater, and a gift shop. There's a restaurant and a laser rifle range simulator too. In the Korean War gallery, there's a special section that makes you feel the cold and hear the sounds of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir from 1951. The museum also has two play areas just for kids!
More to Explore
- Coast Guard Heritage Museum
- Coast Guard Museum Northwest
- History of the United States Marine Corps
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- National Museum of the United States Navy
- National Museum of the United States Air Force
- National Museum of the United States Army
- War in the Pacific National Historical Park
See also
In Spanish: Museo Nacional del Cuerpo de Marines para niños
