Groundbreaking Ceremony (May 17, 2024)

Veterans, active duty service members, community leaders and supporters gathered for the groundbreaking of the Carolina Museum of the Marine. The museum will honor Marines and Sailors in our state. The event marked a significant milestone, not just for Jacksonville, but also for North Carolina as a whole.

USMC Ret. Maj. General Ray Smith said, “it’s a 24 year dream come true… the first part of the dream come true. It’ll be totally true when there is a line of cars coming into Jacksonville to see it.”

The big theme of the museum will be ‘Meet the Marine, Be Inspired’. The exhibits will take a look at the history of the Marines, women in the Marines, and the unique connection between Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune.

The museum is a major project projected to be completed spring of 2026. This major project has a price tag of $30 million for construction funded by the state of North Carolina along with dollars from the county, city, and private groups. The museum will be 25,000 square feet, featuring three galleries taking people through important moments in the Marines history. It will be a special place for the community to come together. 

This space honors Marines and Sailors who have served in the past and those who will serve in decades to come. We are thrilled to be making progress and we look forward to the next phase.