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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS TO CLOSE JANUARY THROUGH MARCH

WWII and Vietnam aircraft to be installed during temporary closure

Dumfries, Va.  – The doors to the National Museum for the Marine Corps will temporarily close, January 4 - March 31, 2016. The closure, in conjunction with a massive addition to the Museum, will allow two new aircraft to be added to Leatherneck Gallery. A recently restored World War II SBD Dauntless dive bomber will be hung from the ceiling of the central gallery, while a new tableau featuring a Vietnam-era Sikorsky UH-34D helicopter will also be installed on the floor.

The Museum has remained open and free to the public nearly every day since its 2006 dedication. More than a half million visitors walk through its galleries each year. The temporary closure is necessary due to the significant logistical and engineering process required to install the two aircraft. The entire building, including its eateries and Museum Store will close. However, the Store will still operate online, and the outdoor playground and chapel, pathways, and memorials of the adjoining Semper Fidelis Memorial Park will remain open, weather and construction permitting. The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's and Museum’s websites and social media will post updates during the closure.

“While we never like to close the doors of our Museum, this process will better enable us to tell the stories of every American who has earned the title 'Marine," remarked LtGen Robert R. Blackman, Jr., President and CEO of the Foundation. “Marine Corps history is American history, and we look forward to sharing these impressive pieces of our past with visitors from across the country and around the world."

“The addition of the aircraft is part of the Museum's ongoing efforts to more completely interpret the history of the Marine Corps and share more of the collection,” according to Museum Director Lin Ezell. In March, the Foundation broke ground on the construction of an additional 117,000 square feet of new physical space. Upon completion of the construction, the Museum will have nearly doubled in size to make room for a giant-screen theater, expanded education suite and Children’s Gallery, a Sports Gallery, Art Gallery, Hall of Valor, and two additional historical galleries depicting the bravery and service of the men and women who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 though present day. The construction is scheduled to be finished in 2017, and galleries will begin opening in 2017, with all exhibitions completed by 2020.

Media note:   Media will be invited to cover the installation of the aircraft during the Museum's closure. Reporters may also request hard hat tours, interviews and renderings by contacting Daniel Gregory, 202-414-0785, dgregory@susandavis.com.


About the National Museum of the Marine Corps
The Museum is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. It is located at 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway in Triangle, VA. and is normally open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily except Christmas Day. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call703-784-6107 or visit on the web at www.usmcmuseum.com. 

About the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
Dedicated to the preservation and promulgation of Marine Corps history, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation was established in 1979 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation supports the historical programs of the Marine Corps in ways not possible through government funds. The Foundation provides grants and scholarships for research and the renovation, restoration, and commissioning of historical Marine Corps artifacts and landmarks. Securing the necessary funding for the complete construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center, located in Triangle, Virginia, is the Foundation’s current primary mission while continuing to provide program support for the Corps’ historical,museum, and educational activities. For more information, visit MarineHeritage.org.