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The African American Military History Museum, also known as ''East Sixth Street USO Building'', located in
Retrieved 2012-09-26
Prior to becoming the African American Military History Museum, the former USO building housed the N.R. Burger Center which served as a museum and community space to commemorate the allegiance of African-American soldiers through displays of historical documents, artifacts, and photographs.
Renovation of the USO Building as the African American Military History Museum was completed in 2009.African American Military History Museum
Retrieved 2012-09-26 The original USO auditorium was subdivided into venues for historical military exhibits, to include the following: Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Global War on Terrorism, and Hattiesburg Hall of Honor. Between 2009 and 2012, approximately 13,000 visitors had toured the museum.
Retrieved 2013-02-14 Museum personnel estimated that the structure would be closed for at least one year for restoration and announced that museum artifacts had been relocated to another facility for storage. Following a year of reconstruction, the museum officially reopened on February 6, 2014. Estimates of damage from the tornado were $450,000 to the building and $600,000 to the museum contents.
Retrieved 2014-02-10
African American Military History Museum
Retrieved 2012-09-25 * {{National Register of Historic Places Museums in Forrest County, Mississippi History of Mississippi Military and war museums in Mississippi African-American museums in Mississippi Museums established in 1942 2009 establishments in Mississippi Buildings and structures in Hattiesburg, Mississippi United Service Organizations buildings Mississippi Landmarks World War II on the National Register of Historic Places African-American military monuments and memorials 1942 establishments in Mississippi Camp Shelby
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, located primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat and largest city) and extending west into Lamar County. The city population was 45,989 at the 2010 census, with the popul ...
, opened to the public on May 23, 2009. The museum building was originally constructed in 1942 as a USO Club for African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
soldier
A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a Conscription, conscripted or volunteer Enlisted rank, enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an Officer (armed forces), officer.
Etymology
The word ''soldier'' deri ...
s who were stationed at Camp Shelby. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 2004 and was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2010.
Description
The East Sixth Street USO building was unique in that it was constructed specifically to house an African American USO, shortly after theUnited States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
entered World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, and had support of both Blacks and Whites in Hattiesburg. The structure is a T-shaped wood-frame building. The interior contained an auditorium, stage, lobby, men's and women's restrooms, dressing rooms, meeting rooms, and a central brick chimney. The auditorium measured . The stage in the auditorium was raised above the floor and measured with dressing rooms on either side.
History
USO club
Between 1942 and 1946, the East Sixth Street USO Club served as a home away from home for African American soldiers who were stationed at Camp Shelby. The facility was a place where soldiers could come for recreation, relaxation, and socialization. Examples of services provided at the USO included a library,darkroom
A darkroom is used to process photographic film, to make prints and to carry out other associated tasks. It is a room that can be made completely dark to allow the processing of the light-sensitive photographic materials, including film and ph ...
, lounge, counseling, music, mail service, religious literature, and sewing service.Guide to the East Sixth Street U.S.O. Club Souvenir BookletRetrieved 2012-09-26
Museum
Prior to becoming the African American Military History Museum, the former USO building housed the N.R. Burger Center which served as a museum and community space to commemorate the allegiance of African-American soldiers through displays of historical documents, artifacts, and photographs.
Renovation of the USO Building as the African American Military History Museum was completed in 2009.African American Military History MuseumRetrieved 2012-09-26 The original USO auditorium was subdivided into venues for historical military exhibits, to include the following: Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Global War on Terrorism, and Hattiesburg Hall of Honor. Between 2009 and 2012, approximately 13,000 visitors had toured the museum.
Tornado damage
On February 10, 2013, an EF-4 tornado passed through Hattiesburg. During the storm, the roof of the Museum was severely damaged, causing exhibits and artifacts to be soaked by rain.Historic USO building damaged by tornadoRetrieved 2013-02-14 Museum personnel estimated that the structure would be closed for at least one year for restoration and announced that museum artifacts had been relocated to another facility for storage. Following a year of reconstruction, the museum officially reopened on February 6, 2014. Estimates of damage from the tornado were $450,000 to the building and $600,000 to the museum contents.
Retrieved 2014-02-10
See also
*Mississippi Armed Forces Museum
The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum is located at Camp Shelby, approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Armed Forces Museum serves as the military history museum for the State of Mississippi. It is a member of the ...
References
External links
*Official WebsitAfrican American Military History Museum
Retrieved 2012-09-25 * {{National Register of Historic Places Museums in Forrest County, Mississippi History of Mississippi Military and war museums in Mississippi African-American museums in Mississippi Museums established in 1942 2009 establishments in Mississippi Buildings and structures in Hattiesburg, Mississippi United Service Organizations buildings Mississippi Landmarks World War II on the National Register of Historic Places African-American military monuments and memorials 1942 establishments in Mississippi Camp Shelby