From Staff Reports and the American Chronicle

Hattiesburg - Brooke Cruthirds is the crurator of a unique Mississippi Landmark: the African American Military History Museum. Over 1500 guests have come through the doors of the museum since it opened on May 23rd, the official grand opening to the public. Since that time the museum has seen a steady flow of visitors from across the State and the nation.

“We knew that the numbers would be positive, but this is really encouraging,” said Hattiesburg Convention Commission Executive Director Rick Taylor. “This proves there is definitely a desire in the State and across the country for a museum detailing the history of African American soldiers.” The museum has seen visitors come from every corner of Mississippi and from as far as California, Missouri, Florida, Georgia and Illinois.

The museum is a partnership between the African American Military History Committee and the Hattiesburg Convention Commission.  Colonel Sheila Varnado is the president of the committee and Iola Williams is the executive director of the committee.  Rick Taylor is the executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission.  Latoya Hathorn is the museum relations associate. She conducts the tours and coordinates education activities.  Shawana Gamblin and Melindy Nelson are the museum information specialists who greet visitors and answer questions.

The USO Club opened in 1942, and was constructed by community volunteers who invested more than 40,000 hours in the project. It is currently the only surviving USO built exclusively for African American soldiers, and in 2003 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. More than 150 years of African American military history is displayed in this interactive museum. Beginning with the Buffalo Soldiers of the post civil war era through modern conflicts like Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, visitors can witness the service and sacrifice of African American servicemen and women. The exhibits showcase hundreds of artifacts, including one of the most complete sets of Spanish-American War medals. These intricate exhibits tell the story of famous African American soldiers like Hattiesburg´s Jesse L. Brown, America´s first black naval aviator. Also showcased are lesser known heroes such as Hattiesburg´s Ruth Bailey Earl, a representative of more than 500 black nurses during World War II. Interactive displays honoring the well-known Tuskegee Airmen and the famous Red Ball Express highlight the museum.

The museum is free and open to the public Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For information, call 601-450-1942 or visit www.HattiesburgUSO.com.

Since 1991, the Hattiesburg Convention Commission has been developing, operating and promoting tourism-related facilities for the Hattiesburg area. For more information, visit www.HattiesburgConventionCommission.com.