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 (see US Route 1 in Virginia) Triangle, Virginia |
| Type | Military History |
| Public transit access | none |
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a special museum that tells the story of the United States Marine Corps. It's located in Triangle, Virginia, close to MCB Quantico. The museum first opened on November 10, 2006. Now, it's one of Virginia's most popular places to visit, with over 500,000 people coming each year!
In 2013, the museum shared plans to get even bigger! They wanted to add new parts about more recent Marine Corps history. This would include a gallery for combat art and a section about the Global War on Terrorism.
Contents
About the Museum's History
This museum took the place of two older museums. One was the Marine Corps Historical Center in Washington, D.C. The other was the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum in Quantico, Virginia.
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 will be given to the Marine Corps.
A special architect named Curtis W. Fentress designed the museum. The outside of the building looks like the famous image of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima. This image is also seen at 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 (9,290 square meters). It is open to everyone, and you can visit for free!
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation started in 1979. It's a private, non-profit group that helps support the history programs of the Marine Corps. In 1999, they decided to also help create the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
The Heritage Center Campus
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the main part of a bigger area called the Marine Corps Heritage Center. This huge campus is about 135 acres (0.55 square kilometers). It includes the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park and a chapel.
There's also a demonstration area for parades. You can find hiking trails and other fun outdoor activities. The campus also has a conference center, a hotel, and a special place to keep and protect Marine artifacts.
The chapel, also designed by Fentress Architects, was finished in 2009. A retired Marine donated $5 million to help build it.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The museum has many permanent exhibits for visitors to explore. These exhibits were designed by Christopher Chadbourne and Associates. Some of the main ones are:
- 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)
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 and a theater. There's a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs. You can also find a bar, a restaurant, and a laser rifle range simulator. In the Korean War gallery, there's a special section. It makes you feel the cold temperatures and hear the sounds of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir from 1951. The museum even has two play areas just for kids!
See also
In Spanish: Museo Nacional del Cuerpo de Marines para niños
