African American Military History Museum

The African American Military History Museum, also known as East Sixth Street USO Building, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, opened to the public on May 23, 2009. The museum building was originally constructed in 1942 as a USO Club for African American soldiers who were stationed at Camp Shelby. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2010.

African American Military History Museum
Mississippi Landmark
African American Military History Museum in 2012
Location305 East Sixth Street, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Coordinates31°20′03″N 89°17′34″W
Area0.5 acre (0.2 hectare)
Built1942
NRHP reference No.04000267 [1]
USMS No.035-HAT-0347-NR-ML
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 06, 2004[2]
Designated USMSApril 16, 2010[3]

Description

The East Sixth Street USO building was unique in that it was constructed specifically to house an African American USO, shortly after the United States entered World War II, and had support of both Blacks and Whites in Hattiesburg.[2] 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 34 feet (10.4 meters) by 55 feet (16.8 meters). The stage in the auditorium was raised 3 feet (0.9 meters) above the floor and measured 20 by 22 feet (6 by 6.7 meters) 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.[4] 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, lounge, counseling, music, mail service, religious literature, and sewing service.[5]

Museum
Memorial Gardens at the African American Military History 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served as a museum and community space to commemorate the allegiance of African-American soldiers through displays of historical documents, artifacts, and photographs.[5]

Renovation of the USO Building as the African American Military History Museum was completed in 2009.[6] 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.[7] Between 2009 and 2012, approximately 13,000 visitors had toured the museum.[6]

A tornado damaged the Museum in February 2013

Tornado damage

On February 10, 2013, an EF-4 tornado passed through Hattiesburg.[8][9] During the storm, the roof of the Museum was severely damaged, causing exhibits and artifacts to be soaked by rain.[10] 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.[10]

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.[11]

See also

References
  1. National Register of Historic Places, Forrest County, Mississippi Retrieved 2012-09-24
  2. East Sixth Street USO Building National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form Retrieved 2012-09-24
  3. "Mississippi Landmarks". Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  4. USO Club—a Hall of History and Honor Retrieved 2012-09-25
  5. Guide to the East Sixth Street U.S.O. Club Souvenir Booklet Archived 2010-06-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012-09-26
  6. African American Military History Museum Retrieved 2012-09-26
  7. African American Military History Museum Exhibits Retrieved 2012-09-27
  8. Pine Belt Tornado Event Retrieved 2013-02-14
  9. Hattiesburg tornado Retrieved 2013-02-14
  10. Historic USO building damaged by tornado Retrieved 2013-02-14
  11. Military History Museum reopens in Hattiesburg Archived February 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2014-02-10
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