Montford Point Marine Museum

Camp Johnson, North Carolina

The Museum was established to preserve the legacy of the Montford Point Marines.

The Marines of Montford Point entered the camp’s main gate as mere men of color, who had pride, courage and dedication. During the 1940s these men traveled a road that was not paved. They graduated to become Marines and brought the American people and the U.S. Marine Corps into a new era. Today many of the Marines who traveled through this groundbreaking period of American and Marine Corps history have contributed their life’s successes to the pain, sacrifices, and rewards that were earned at Montford Point.

Museum Mission Statement: To collect, record, preserve and display, in a museum setting for public education and viewing, the largest collection of photographs, documents, papers, and artifacts, forever capturing the unique history of African American Marines from 1942 to 1949.

Role: The role of the museum is to display memories of the past and show the public how significantly those experiences have influenced events of today.

Location: The Montford Point Marines Museum is housed on the hollow grounds of Montford Point Camp in building M101, Marine Corps Base, Camp Gilbert H. Johnson, Jacksonville, NC.

Director: The Museum Director is Mrs. Tikishia C. Smiley. Museum staff is on call for out of town visitors.

Museum Hours: The museum is open to the public on Tuesdays to Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and every 2nd & 4th Saturday 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. Call (910) 554-0808 for more information.

email:museumdirector@montfordpointmarines.org

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Acquisition: The acquisition committee of Montford Point Museum is currently seeking material for future displays. The first phase of the program is to seek specific material from WWII era Montford Point Marines and their families. Items include but are not limited to: photographs, diaries, personal and military objects, and other materials that reflect the lives, actions, and memories of original Montford Point Marines. Only items that spanned the specific years of c.1942-1949 are needed for phase one.

If you have material that is needed for phase one there are two ways of contributing those items. The first way is a permanent gift, and the second way is a short or long term loan. In all cases, material will be handled with care, protection, and above all else with respect. Items gathered during acquisition will be used by the museum, made available to historians, researchers, and the general public for the advancement of historical preservation and awareness.