African American Military History Museum
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FamilyIndoorEducationalMilitary
Overview
The African American Military History Museum, also known as East Sixth Street USO Building, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States, opened to the public on May 23, 2009. The museum building was originally constructed in 1942 as a USO Club for African American soldiers who were stationed at Camp Shelby. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2010.
Practical Info
MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat12:00 – 4:00 PM
SunClosed
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeHighly recommended during Black History Month (February) or weekday mornings around 10:00 AM. Housed in the nation's only remaining WWI-era African American USO building at 305 E 6th Street, early morning hours provide a serene atmosphere to read through the heavy, inspiring military archives.
Getting ThereLocated at 305 E 6th Street, Hattiesburg. Driving is simplest: off US-49, turn west onto East 6th Street and cruise straight for 1.2 miles. The distinct, historic two-story wooden structure will be on your left, offering a free dedicated visitor parking lot directly behind the property.
Travel Tips
- Housed in the only remaining WWII-era African American USO structure; tight indoor occupant limits are legally mandated by municipal fire codes to protect the timber frame.
- Free parking fills the designated front surface lot; the site borders historic residential grids where street-blocking or tire-parking on private lawns triggers immediate municipal towing.
- The gallery contains hyper-fragile historic medals and vintage uniforms; disabling mobile device camera flash is a safety mandate, and outside unsealed drinks are barred past reception.
Reviews
Positive
- Converted from the historic Camp Shelby African American Soldiers' Club, the building itself is a rare, high-value artifact.
- The exhibits profoundly showcase African American military contributions and sacrifices; real photos and uniforms offer strong visuals.
- Completely free with no admission; restrooms are clean, and the compact venue features accessible ramps with great convenience.
- The docents provide highly sincere, enthusiastic service with orderly management; crowds stay light, free from commercial noise.
Heads up
- The overall museum space is limited, requiring just 30-45 minutes to browse thoroughly; long-distance travelers might find it small.
- Public transit is extremely scarce around the area with zero bus lines; it relies on driving, and slots get tight during special events.
- Exhibits rely heavily on static frames and display cases; modern interactive multimedia options are few, limiting appeal for young kids.
- Multilingual signs are heavily lacking; all deep historical texts are strictly in English, hard for foreign guests to fully grasp.