Hattiesburg
FEATURED - MUSEUMS - ZOO - LOCAL PARKS & NATURE - STATE PARK - WATER FUN - INDOOR FUN - OUTDOOR FUN - SIGHTS & LANDMARKS - LIBRARIES - CLOTHING - SWEETS - RESTAURANTS - EVENTS
Museums
MISSISSIPPI ARMED FORCES MUSEUM
The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum (MAFM) began in 1984 when two retired military veterans, Donald Evans and Doug White, decided to display their personal collections of war artifacts in a small room inside a warehouse at Camp Shelby. The pair began contacting other soldiers and veterans organizations for items to display, growing the Museum’s collections, and by 1993 the Museum moved to a larger building on Camp Shelby.
In 1999, with the help the Armed Forces Museum Foundation, military veterans, and state and local leaders, the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum was allotted $4.5 million from the Mississippi Legislature to construct a new facility. On October 27, 2001, the new 26,000-square-foot facility was completed at the Museum’s present location.
The facility was renovated in 2015 and was expanded to 36,000 square feet, with 26,000 square feet for exhibition space. The Museum reopened to the public in October 2016 after closing in February 2015 for construction and renovation work. In addition to revamped and new exhibits, a 7,500-square-foot, $2 million dollar addition was made to the facility. The previous center courtyard was enclosed creating the Armed Forces Benefits Association (AFBA) 5-Star Life Grand Gallery, the Museum’s largest new addition to the facility at 5,000 square feet. This gallery provides multi-use space for new exhibits, military ceremonies, civic events, and large-scale traveling exhibits. Two new galleries were also added honoring the state’s 28 Medal of Honor recipients as well as other distinguished veterans from Mississippi.
Admission: Free
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed most federal and state holidays
Address: 1001 Lee AVE W, Building 850, Hattiesburg, MS 39407
Phone: (601) 558-2757
photo courtesy of Mississippi Armed Forces Museum
AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY MUSEUM
Opened in 1942, in the segregated army of World War II, the USO Club served as a home away from home for African Americian soldiers stationed at Camp Shelby.
Opened in 1942, in the segregated army of World War II, the USO Club served as a home away from home for African American soldiers stationed at Camp Shelby. This building is the only remaining USO constructed especially for African American soldiers in public use in the United States. It is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is a Mississippi Landmark.
Beginning with the Buffalo Soldiers of the post–Civil War era through the modern-day conflicts of Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the museum bears witness to the service and sacrifice of the African American soldier. Hundreds of artifacts, photos and unique displays, including one of the most complete sets of authentic Spanish-American War medals, fill the restored main hall. Each item tells a story of pioneers such as Hattiesburg's own Jesse L. Brown, America's first black naval aviator, and lesser-known heroes such as Ruth Bailey Earl, also of Hattiesburg, whose image and actions represented the more than 500 black nurses who served during World War II.
Their acts of valor and bravery while under fire are presented with honor at Hattiesburg's African American Military History Museum at the Historic USO Club, so that we may be inspired by their courage and patriotism.
Admission: Free
Hours: Wednesday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Address: 305 E 6th St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: (601) 450-1942
photo courtesy of African American Military History Museum
Hattiesburg Pocket Museum
“Peer into the window of our tiny museum! Our exhibits will be ever-changing and always interesting! We hope you'll be moved to explore the side streets, back alleys, dirt roads, & nooks and crannies of our city with wild abandon and unlimited curiosity!”
Hours: Everyday
Admission: Free
Address: 119 W Front St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone:
photos by Kid-Friendly Mississippi
FEATURED - MUSEUMS - ZOO - LOCAL PARKS & NATURE - STATE PARK - WATER FUN - INDOOR FUN - OUTDOOR FUN - SIGHTS & LANDMARKS - LIBRARIES - CLOTHING - SWEETS - RESTAURANTS - EVENTS
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