Mississippi Armed Forces Museum

{{Infobox museum

| name = Mississippi Armed Forces Museum

| logo = Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Logo.jpeg

| image = MississippiArmedForcesMuseum Nov 6, 2021.jpg

| caption = Front facade 2021

| imagesize =

| map_type =

| coordinates = {{coord|31.19831|-89.22372|display=inline,title}}

| established = 2001

| location = Camp Shelby

| type =

| visitors = 50,000 per year{{cite web|url=http://www.armedforcesmuseum.us/Pages/Newsletter.pdf |title=Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Newsletter |access-date=2011-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810055232/http://www.armedforcesmuseum.us/Pages/Newsletter.pdf |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }}

| director = Tommy Lofton (2019){{Cite web|url=https://armedforcesmuseum.us/about|title=ABOUT|first=Mississippi Armed Forces|last=Museum|website=Mississippi Armed Forces Museum}}

| publictransit =

| website = [https://msarmedforcesmuseum.org/]

}}

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 Army Museum System.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Army Center of Military History{{!}}Museums |url=https://history.army.mil/Army-Museum-Enterprise/Find-an-Army-Museum/#Mississippi |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Army Museum Enterprise}}

Museum objective

The purpose of the museum is to honor the service and sacrifices of Mississippi veterans from all military branches.{{cite web|url=http://www.armedforcesmuseum.us/Pages/MAFMRackCard.pdf |title=Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Brochure |access-date=2011-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810055209/http://www.armedforcesmuseum.us/Pages/MAFMRackCard.pdf |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }}

Museum description

Two military veterans started the museum in 1984 with their personal collection of war artifacts.{{cite web|url=http://www.armedforcesmuseum.us/Pages/RARE%20Designs.pdf |title=The Patriot Campaign |access-date=2011-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810055307/http://www.armedforcesmuseum.us/Pages/RARE%20Designs.pdf |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }} At that time, the museum was housed in a small room of a warehouse at Camp Shelby.

In 2001, a {{convert|23000|ft2|m2|abbr=on}} facility was completed. The museum contained {{convert|16000|ft2|m2|abbr=on}} of exhibits, 17,000 artifacts, 4,500 volumes of military history, and 2,000 historical documents.

In February 2015, the museum was closed for expansion. The expansion increased the museum space by {{convert|7500|ft2|m2|abbr=on}}, added three new exhibition galleries, and remodeled older exhibits. The museum was officially reopened by the Governor of Mississippi on October 27, 2016.{{Citation |last = Ciurczak |first = Ellen | title = Mississippi Armed Forces Museum reopens to rave reviews | newspaper = Hattiesburg American | date = October 27, 2016 |url = http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/2016/10/27/mississippi-armed-forces-museum-reopens-rave-reviews/92727584/ | access-date = 2016-11-19}}.

Museum exhibits

Within the museum building are eight galleries for viewing exhibits: late 19th century conflicts, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Global War on Terrorism, and Medal of Honor. Military weapons, equipment, clothing, and medals are on display.

Outdoor exhibits include aircraft, tanks, field artillery, and memorials.