Where The Past Touches The Future

Dedicated to all who have and will commit themselves to the most honorable service. The MCRD Museum opened its doors in 1987 due to the hard work of Marine retirees and veterans, their families, and friends of the Marine Corps.  Since its opening, the Museum has served the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego/Western Recruiting Region through its misson to train recruits and provide for the continuing education of Marines, support the recruiting effort, and serve as a bridge to the civilian community.

The Museum is open to the general public six days a week. It is closed on Sundays and all Federal Holidays. Normal musuem operating hours are Monday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Tuesday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors should enter through Gate 5, the Washington Street gate, and if visiting Monday - Friday, stop first at the base's Visitor Center (Pass & ID) to request a visitor pass. Note:  Visitors 18 years of age and older must have REALID compliant government issued identification. For questions about base access and ID types, please contact the base's Visitor Center (Pass & ID) at (619) 524-4200, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM (3:00 PM on Fridays; closed on Federal Holidays). 

The MCRD Museum's major galleries are: Recruit Training at San Diego; the Mexican-American War in California; the Centennial of the Base; World War I; World War II; the Korean War; the Vietnam War; and the Forward Deployed Gallery, an amalgam of history post-Vietnam featuring operations in the 1980's and 1900's such as Grenada and Beirut, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and the 2000's and 2010's Global War on Terror featuring conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Smaller exhibits include the history of the Marine Corps Womens Reserve (MCWR) in World War II; Medals and Decorations, Edged Weapons, and Firearms.  Field guns are displayed in the museum's courtyard behind the museum building.

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