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USA South
TRIANGLE, VIRGINIA, USA – The sound of gunfire bouncing off nearby rolling green hills and filtering through deeply forested land could have served as a movie soundtrack – but it was real and it was close.
Well sort of real. The gunfire came from a marine training exercise taking place over the nearest hill at the marine corps base at Quantico, adjacent to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. It did, nonetheless, underscored the visit to the museum with a bit of auditory realism that was hard to forget as we wandered through the exhibits commemorating marines’ dedicated service to the United States from the Revolutionary War to the present. The gunfire, along with the museum’s many excellent exhibits, show in a very real and personal way, that this is not a movie, and there are actual lives given and at constant risk.
Opened to the public in November 2006, and situated on a 135-acre site, the National Museum of the Marine Corps’s 118,000-square-foot soaring structure was inspired by the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima. Visitors are greeted at by an actual marine or a trained museum docent who, more often than not, is a former marine. What better way to start a visit that promises to let visitors view the history of America through the eyes of the Marine Corps and to discover what it’s like to actually be a Marine.
The entrance opens onto to the majestic Leatherneck Gallery – the artifacts, vignettes, testimonials, and images in this space honor the contributions of every Marine. Suspended over the gallery are four aircraft key to Marine history: a Curtiss “Jenny” from the “Banana Wars” of the 1920’s, a pair of elegant but deadly Corsair fighters from World War II and an AV-8B Harrier “jump jet.” On the ground, an LVT-1 amphibious tractor breaches the defensive log wall on the Pacific island of Tarawa, while a Sikorsky HRS-2 helicopter disembarks a machine gun unit onto a Korean War position.
Interesting as the artifacts may be, the most compelling part of the gallery is an art installation dedicated to marines who gave their life in Iraq. Seeing their photos matched with the boots that once belonged to these fallen heroes brings the entire museum into perspective. It’s impossible not to get emotional.
Throughout the facility world-class interactive exhibits utilize the most innovative technology to immerse visitors in the sights, sounds and sometimes even the smells of battles of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. The artifacts are real. Even the human figures in the dioramas were cast from actual marines – they are not merely mannequins!
Over 60,000 pieces reside in museum’s collection, about 10% of which are on display at any one time. Artifacts range in size from tactical attack aircraft to individual blouse buttons from the Civil War and everything in between. According to tour guide Lance Corporal Andrew Daily, it’s not uncommon to have former marines visit and recognize the museum objects like vehicles, tanks, planes, weapons, uniforms, and other artifacts as objects they themselves used during their tours of duty. He goes on to say that “This museum if very real for anyone who experiences it.”
Visits here often turn into emotional experiences, for veterans and civilians alike. It’s hard not to be changed after being immersed in the world of the marine, if even for a few short hours. You will come away with a newfound level of respect, even if your level of respect was high before you went in.
For more information about visiting this area, contact the Prince William County/Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.VisitPWC.com or call toll free 800-432-1792.
USA South
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TRIANGLE, VIRGINIA, USA – The sound of gunfire bouncing off nearby rolling green hills and filtering through deeply forested land could have served as a movie soundtrack – but it was real and it was close. Well sort of real. The gunfire came from a marine training exercise taking place over the nearest hill at the marine corps base at Quantico, adjacent to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. It did, nonetheless, underscored the visit to the museum with a bit of auditory realism that was hard to forget as we wandered through the exhibits commemorating marines’ dedicated service to the United States from the Revolutionary War to the present. The gunfire, along with the museum’s many excellent exhibits, show in a very real and personal way, that this is not a movie, and there are actual lives given and at constant risk.
Opened to the public in November 2006, and situated on a 135-acre site, the National Museum of the Marine Corps’s 118,000-square-foot soaring structure was inspired by the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima. Visitors are greeted at by an actual marine or a trained museum docent who, more often than not, is a former marine. What better way to start a visit that promises to let visitors view the history of America through the eyes of the Marine Corps and to discover what it’s like to actually be a Marine.
The entrance opens onto to the majestic Leatherneck Gallery – the artifacts, vignettes, testimonials, and images in this space honor the contributions of every Marine. Suspended over the gallery are four aircraft key to Marine history: a Curtiss “Jenny” from the “Banana Wars” of the 1920’s, a pair of elegant but deadly Corsair fighters from World War II and an AV-8B Harrier “jump jet.” On the ground, an LVT-1 amphibious tractor breaches the defensive log wall on the Pacific island of Tarawa, while a Sikorsky HRS-2 helicopter disembarks a machine gun unit onto a Korean War position.
Interesting as the artifacts may be, the most compelling part of the gallery is an art installation dedicated to marines who gave their life in Iraq. Seeing their photos matched with the boots that once belonged to these fallen heroes brings the entire museum into perspective. It’s impossible not to get emotional.
Throughout the facility world-class interactive exhibits utilize the most innovative technology to immerse visitors in the sights, sounds and sometimes even the smells of battles of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. The artifacts are real. Even the human figures in the dioramas were cast from actual marines – they are not merely mannequins!
Over 60,000 pieces reside in museum’s collection, about 10% of which are on display at any one time. Artifacts range in size from tactical attack aircraft to individual blouse buttons from the Civil War and everything in between. According to tour guide Lance Corporal Andrew Daily, it’s not uncommon to have former marines visit and recognize the museum objects like vehicles, tanks, planes, weapons, uniforms, and other artifacts as objects they themselves used during their tours of duty. He goes on to say that “This museum if very real for anyone who experiences it.”
Visits here often turn into emotional experiences, for veterans and civilians alike. It’s hard not to be changed after being immersed in the world of the marine, if even for a few short hours. You will come away with a newfound level of respect, even if your level of respect was high before you went in.
Practicalities
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is located at 18900 Jefferson
Davis Highway in Triangle, Virginia 22172-1938. Phone 703-784-6422 or
visit their website at www.usmcmuseum.com.
There is no admission charge for the Museum (although donations are
gladly accepted) and parking at the facility is free.
For more information about visiting this area, contact the Prince William County/Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.VisitPWC.com or call toll free 800-432-1792.
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