MCRD San Diego Command Museum, Military museum in San Diego, United States
The MCRD San Diego Command Museum sits on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot grounds and displays items, photographs, and exhibits about service members during training and deployment phases. The collections document recruit experiences from their first day through advanced preparation for operational assignments.
The museum was founded in 1987 with support from Marine veterans and their families, marking an important effort to preserve the service history of the region. It grew to become a key repository for documenting Marine Corps experiences and traditions in Southern California.
The museum maintains a Reference Center containing archives, a research library, and educational materials documenting the Marine Corps presence in Southern California.
The museum is accessible on weekdays with early morning hours and slightly later weekend access, requiring valid government identification at the entrance. Visitors should confirm hours ahead of time as schedules may shift with seasonal changes.
The building displays Spanish Colonial Revival architecture designed by Bertram Goodhue, the same architect behind major structures at the US Military Academy at West Point. This architectural link connects the museum to a larger tradition of military institutional buildings across the country.
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