From our friends at the National Museum of the Marine Corps...
The National Museum of the Marine Corps recently welcomed its 5 millionth visitor when Carol Ellison of Stafford, Virginia crossed the threshold. The Museum, considered one of the top museums in the state, hosts an average of 1,500 visitors a day.
Ellison’s and her husband, a retired Marine Corps master sergeant, were given a gift certificate to the Museum Store, a brick in Semper Fidelis Memorial Park and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum’s Final Phase.
The tour was especially impressive to MSgt. Ellison since the coming galleries, which cover Marine Corps history from 1976 to 2014, cover his years in service. It’s anticipated that the openings of these galleries will increase the average daily attendance to nearly 2,000. The gallery openings will begin with the Combat Art Gallery which premiers to the public on July 8. That will be followed by the Children’s Gallery and the Medal of Honor Theater this year. The historical galleries, a Marine Corps Sports Gallery and Hall of Fame, Hall of Valor and a changing exhibits gallery will open over the next 4 years.
In addition to being a Marine Corps spouse, Ellison also has another connection to the Museum. As a volunteer with one of the local Lab Rescue groups she has participated in the Museum’s annual “Dog Days of Summer” event. She may very well be back for this year’s event on September 16.
The Museum’s Director, Lin Ezell, hopes everyone will come back to the Museum in the near future.
“While we’re very excited to have welcomed our 5 millionth visitor, we’re even more excited about our new galleries. Even if you’ve been to the Museum before, you’ll want to come back for a whole different experience each time you visit during the next 5 years,” Ezell said.
The Museum is open during construction and soon visitors will be able to see the work going on in the new galleries from a catwalk above the space.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is located at 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway in Triangle, VA. and is open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily except Christmas Day. Admission and parking are free. For more information, please call 703 784-6107 or visit the Museum’s website at www.usmcmuseum.org.
