The Marine Corps Museum was located on the first floor of the

Marine Corps Historical Society The United States Marine Corps History Division is a branch of Headquarters Marine Corps tasked with researching, writing, and maintaining the History of the United States Marine Corps. It also provides reference and research assistance; preserves ...

in Building 58 of the

Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy. The Yard currently serves as a ceremonial and administrativ ...

, 9th and M Streets (southeast),

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

It housed a wide variety of exhibits with artifacts relating to the history of the U.S. Marines. It also contained a collection of art relating to the Marines and a historical Time Tunnel. For many years, the Marine Corps Museum served as a center for preserving and showcasing the Marine Corps legacy. The museum closed on 1 July 2005, during the establishment of the

National Museum of the Marine Corps The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the historical museum of the United States Marine Corps. Located in Triangle, Virginia near MCB Quantico, the museum opened on November 10, 2006, and is now one of the top tourist attractions in the st ...

History

In the early 20th century, the Marine Corps displayed historical items such as captured weapons and flags in war trophy rooms at the

Headquarters Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions. The function, ...

and the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, D.C."National Museum of the Marine Corps Collection Rationale", 2008. In 1940, the Marine Corps established a proto-museum on the second deck of Little Hall at

Marine Corps Base Quantico Marine Corps Base Quantico (commonly abbreviated MCB Quantico) is a United States Marine Corps installation located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly of southern Prince William County, Virginia, northern Stafford County, and southeaster ...

.Nihart, Brooke
"Major Magruder Sought First Full-Scale Marine Museum"
''Fortitudine'', volume XXII, number 4 (Spring 1993), pages 27–30. In 1952, the

Commandant of the Marine Corps The commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions. The CMC reports directly to the secr ...

, General

Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. (February 10, 1896 – August 6, 1990) was a four-star general of the United States Marine Corps. A veteran of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, he was the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps. As Co ...

, directed his staff to create a Marine Corps exhibit at the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

after noticing no such display existed there. The Marine Corps Historical Branch tasked reserve Major John H. Magruder III with developing the exhibit at the Smithsonian. Upon completion of an exhibit at the Hall of Military and Naval History at the

Smithsonian Castle The Smithsonian Institution Building, located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. behind the National Museum of African Art and the Sackler Gallery, houses the Smithsonian Institution's administrative offices and information center. The ...

, Major Magruder went on to establish an expanded museum, which opened on 13 September 1960, in Building 1019 next to Little Hall. The Marine Corps Museum continued to expand and eventually moved to Washington Navy Yard in 1977 after closing the Quantico location in 1976.

Notes

Gallery

File:U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia 001.jpg, Dedication of the Marine Corps Museum at Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1960. File:U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia 002.jpg, Displays at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico. {{Coord, 38, 52, 30, N, 76, 59, 32, W, display=title Defunct museums in Washington, D.C. Marine Corps museums in the United States Military and war museums in Washington, D.C. Museums established in 1940 Museums disestablished in 2005 1940 establishments in Washington, D.C. 2005 disestablishments in Washington, D.C.

History

See also

Notes

Gallery