Free
Camp Van Dorn was a Theater of Operations camp established after the bombing of Pearl Harbor to train men for the war in Europe. The museum is dedicated to honoring and preserving the memory the camp and the men and women who trained there. Veterans have been incredibly generous in donating artifacts to this museum. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History works closely with us to aid in preserving the integrity of our collections. We are participating in a pilot program of the American Association for State and Local History. We have a traveling exhibit and frequently visit school, club, and church groups. We are planning a celebration in November honoring all veterans that will include, among other things, a National Guard weapons demonstration.
The museum opening and dedication was held on March 19, 2005. The museum is housed in a beautifully restored building that was originally the first bank in the town of Centreville. A matching grant assisted in the building restoration.
Military objects, such as guns, shells, uniforms, flags, German artifacts, artifacts from Camp Van Dorn, the Siegfried Line, and the Battle of the Bulge. Camp souvenirs (pillow covers, postcards, matchbooks, etc.), WAC artifacts, dioramas.
Vintage newspapers, including camp newspapers, 63rd and 99th Division newspapers, YANK, and Stars and Stripes. Many veterans' memoirs and mini-biographies of many Camp Van Dorn veterans. Photographs from the Camp, veterans, and the war. Rare Regiment and Division books. General World War II Books. Military documents and records. Period registration books from a local hotel. Video-taped interviews with Camp Van Dorn veterans. Vintage letters and cards. We have a computer kiosk for the general public to do research in our collections.
Traveling exhibits, gallery tours, lectures, docent programs, on-hands/interactive exhibits for children. No fees charged for any of these services.
We publish a quarterly newsletter, an annual report, and weekly museum news updates in the local paper.
We’ll kick off the event with a virtual day on Wednesday, July 24, hosted in collaboration with the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM). Then, we’ll gather in-person at the Hilton Columbus at Easton from July 31-August 3 for sessions, networking, and museum exploration. See the conference listing for Association of Midwest Museums for more deetails.
The SCFM Annual Conference is a time where we can celebrate the impact that museums have made on the state of South Carolina. It’s a time where we can share our successes, learn from our challenges, and grow as museum professionals.
We look forward to this year's conference September 16-18, 2024 in Laurens, SC. This year's theme is Fostering Community: There is No Museum Without "Us."
For more information, please call !!! or email scfm@scmuseums.org ;.
Theme: Building Communit
Forge connections with peers, share successes, and tackle challenges together. This biennial event leaves museum professionals feeling inspired
Gain insights, strategies, and practical wisdom for elevating your museum or cultural center's influence
Participate in hands-on workshops designed to turn inspiration into actionable strategies. Leave with the tools you need to grow, learn, and make a difference.
FAM 2024 Annual Conference & Exposition will be held
October 13 – 16 in Daytona Beach!!
Please hold these dates. Watch our FAM website for more conference details.
MI Museums: Navigating Changing Landscape
The role of museums is evolving. How do we as museum professionals and volunteers navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world while staying true to the core mission of museums as stewards of culture, education, and public engagement
While this may present us with challenges, it also offers us opportunities to rethink traditional museum practices and embrace novel approaches to our work. As we navigate these societal, technological, and environmental shifts, what are the tools and strategies we can use to innovate and transform the Michigan museum community
This year’s conference invites participants to explore these pressing issues along with emerging trends in museum education and interpretation, collections stewardship, exhibit design, fundraising, audience development, leadership, DEAI and community engagement. We are all passionate about shaping the future of museums – how can we come together to be a catalyst for change within the Michigan museum community?