The Carolina Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville, North Carolina, honors those who’ve served, educates those who haven’t, and, most importantly, preserves the legacy of those brave Marines and Sailors.
It’s an important place to visit within the massive Lejeune Memorial Gardens, which remembers Marines from many eras, including Vietnam and World War II.
After visiting this powerful museum, we want to share more, including when to visit, what to expect inside, and nearby places.
Here’s how we’ve organized this guide:
Table of Contents
Read More: Museums in North Carolina
Where is the Carolina Museum of the Marine?
Address: 109 Montford Landing Rd Bldg 1775, Jacksonville, NC 28542
Official Website
The Carolina Museum of the Marine is a part of Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, the Onslow County seat and home of Camp Lejeune.
Several small towns and cities in Eastern and Central NC are within a day trip from the Museum, including:
- Swansboro (30 minutes)
- New Bern (45 minutes)
- Wilmington (1 hour)
- Fayetteville (2 hours)
- Raleigh (2 hours 15 minutes)
- Durham (2 hours 30 minutes)
You can visually travel to the Carolina Museum of the Marine and the places mentioned in our North Carolina Travel Map.
Read More: Eastern North Carolina Map (with 300+ Amazing Places Listed)
What is the Carolina Museum of the Marine?
The Carolina Museum of the Marine opened in 2026 and preserves the history of Carolina Marines and Sailors.
Through a $36 million investment and decades of planning, the 25,000-square-foot museum offers a comprehensive history of the Marine Corps from its founding in 1775 to today.
The bases and milestones covered by the Carolina Museum of the Marine include:
- Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, both in Jacksonville, NC.
- MCAS Cherry Point in nearby Cherry Point, NC
- MCAS Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, near Beaufort, SC.
What makes the Marine Corps Unique?
The Marines are part of the Department of the Navy and trained to deploy by sea, air, and land. Specializing in amphibious warfare, Marines are trained to move quickly from ships to shore.
At the heart of every Marine operation is the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), which combines ground, aviation, and logistics units under a single command.
Why Jacksonville is Important to Marine Corps History
Jacksonville has been the home of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune since 1941, originally named Marine Barracks New River. The name changed in 1942 to honor Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune.
Camp Lejeune quickly became one of the nation’s premier Marine training installations.
The coastal geography of Jacksonville, including two deepwater ports of Morehead City and Wilmington, has provided the perfect environment for training Marines for amphibious warfare, especially during World War II.
The skills developed and refined at Camp Lejeune helped prepare Marines for the challenges of coordinated landings and expeditionary missions that became defining moments of the war.
The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve
Although the first woman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1918 to perform clerical duties, all women were discharged the following year after World War I ended.
During World War II, however, the Marine Corps faced a growing need for personnel, leading to the announcement of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve on February 13, 1943. By mid-1943, training had moved to Camp Lejeune and would remain there for the rest of the war.
Their mission was simple: “Free a Marine to Fight.”
By taking on stateside jobs, women allowed more male Marines to serve in combat. Figures vary, but over the course of the war, 18,000-22,000 women enlisted, serving as cooks, clerks, drivers, mechanics, and in many other non-combat roles.
Like the Black Marines who trained at Montford Point (more on that below), members of the Women’s Reserve were discharged after the war ended, with the reserve officially disbanded in 1946. Their service, however, paved the way for permanent change.
The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, signed on June 12, 1948, allowed women to serve as permanent members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Although Camp Lejeune was no longer used for their training, which moved to Parris Island, women became a lasting part of the Marine Corps.
The Montford Point Marines
During World War II, mounting pressure following Executive Order 8802 led the Marine Corps to accept Black Americans for the first time in 1942.
A satellite facility of Camp Lejeune, known as Montford Point, was used as a third boot camp for Black Marines.
White Marines were sent to either Parris Island (South Carolina) or Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (California). Between 1942 and 1949 (and during segregation) Montford Point trained 20,000 African Americans.Â
In 1948, President Harry Truman ordered the military to fully integrate, and in 1974 Montford Point was renamed to Camp Gilbert H. Johnson, becoming home of the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools.
The Montford Point Marines were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2012, and The Montford Point Marine Association continues working to identify those who served so they (or their families, posthumously) can receive their individual medal.
What to Expect While Visiting the Carolina Museum of the Marine
This museum highlights the important role North Carolina and South Carolina Marines played in America’s military history.
Through artifacts, immersive exhibits, and firsthand accounts, visitors will leave with a greater understanding of the challenges Marines faced and the lasting impact of their service.
Expect to spend at least two hours in the museum during a self-guided tour.
Admission Info and Tickets
Hours
- Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Must Purchase a Ticket by 4:30 pm)
- Closed on Mondays
Ticket Prices
- Ages 16 to 54: $14
- Seniors (Ages 55 and Older): $10.00
- Veterans: $8
- Active Duty Military: $6
- Ages 4 to 15: $6
- Ages 3 and Under: Free Admission
- School Groups: $6 per ticket
- Pre-Booked Groups of 10 or more: $12 per ticket
Verify current pricing and hours on the museum’s website before visiting. If anything here is out of date, please let us know.
Notable Exhibits and Exhibit Spaces
As you move through the galleries at the Carolina Museum of the Marine, you’ll encounter stories of deployment, reunion, grief, hope, and perseverance. Here are some prominent Exhibits and Exhibit Spaces inside the Museum:
- The Great Hall: Living up to its name, the Great Hall’s stained glass windows filter sunlight into the space, following the pattern and design of Marine Corps service ribbons.
- LVT Display: Interactively follow the Marines as they landed at Iwo Jima in 1945. An amphibious tractor (LVT) is displayed. It transported Marines from their ship to shore during amphibious landings.
- Mona Lisa (Vietnam-era Huey Helicopter): Another prominent exhibit is the Vietnam-era Huey helicopter, nicknamed “Mona Lisa.” This one in particular was the first issue to the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune in the 1960s.
- Tribute Flame: Visible from the Great Hall, the powerful Tribute Flame recognizes all who made the ultimate sacrifice.
- Warriors Hall: You’ll learn about the origins of the Marines and their legacy in “Warriors Hall.”
Carolina MAGTF Cafe
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Powered by local favorite The Milk Road, the Carolina MAGTF Cafe will fuel your visit to the Museum. They serve a variety of hot drinks (and iced drinks upon request) and smoothies, and provide the perfect space to pause, recharge, or reconnect with friends and family.
The Museum Store
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
If you’d like to take something home to remember your visit, the Museum Store likely has it in stock. The store has books, apparel, artwork and more commemorative items for you to peruse.
In case you didn’t get a chance to browse through the store, you can visit their online gift shop.
Ready to Visit the Carolina Museum of the Marine?
Some of the museum’s most powerful moments aren’t in the artifacts, but in the stories of those Marines.
Heartfelt stories and personal experiences honor the Marines, Sailors, families, and local communities who stand beside them through every deployment, homecoming, and sacrifice.
After many years of hard work and considerable financial help, the Carolina Museum of the Marine is a worthy addition to the already-powerful Lejeune Memorial Gardens. This museum will continue telling the stories of Marines for generations beyond ours.
Hopefully it continues to receive the outpouring and support fit for our Marines and those who have served and sacrificed from ship to shore.
If you’ve visited the Carolina Museum of the Marine, we’d love to hear about your experiences there. Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe for more NC travel adventures in your inbox!
Things to Do Nearby
If you’re looking for things to do near the Museum, you don’t have to look too far. We start with its immediate surroundings before moving around Jacksonville and Onslow County.
Lejeune Memorial Gardens
The Carolina Museum of the Marine is housed within Lejeune Memorial Gardens. This 27-acre memorial in Jacksonville honors those who have bravely served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Monuments honor the Montford Point Marines, 9/11, Vietnam, and more.
Jacksonville
Zooming further out, Jacksonville is the vibrant heart of Onslow County and home to Camp Lejeune. Beyond its military ties (or perhaps as a result of them), Jacksonville boasts a thriving international food scene.
There’s also convenient access to outdoor spaces like at Sturgeon City (pictured above), and if you brought a boat, paddle along the New River Paddle Trail.
Read More: Things to Do in Jacksonville
Onslow County
Speaking of Onslow County, it’s a mix of laid-back beach vibes with small-town charm and a dash of the aforementioned military history.
Whether you’re searching for a beach escape (North Topsail Beach), fresh local seafood (Sneads Ferry), or a weekend of small-town exploring (Swansboro and more), Onslow County is waiting.
Read More: Coastal Towns in North Carolina
More North Carolina Travel Guides
If you’ve read it all but still want to explore the area around the Carolina Museum of the Marine, we’ve created plenty of guides to help.
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