About this property
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. The East Sixth Street USO building was unique in that it was constructed specifically to house an African American USO, shortly after the United States entered World War II, and had support of both Blacks and Whites in Hattiesburg. The structure is a T-shaped wood-frame building. The interior contained an auditorium, stage, lobby, men's and women's restrooms, dressing rooms, meeting rooms, and a central brick chimney. The auditorium measured 34 by 55 feet (10 by 17 meters). The stage in the auditorium was raised 3 feet (0.91 meters) above the floor and measured 20 by 22 feet (6.1 by 6.7 meters) with dressing rooms on either side. Between 1942 and 1946, the East Sixth Street USO Club served as a home away from home for African American soldiers who were stationed at Camp Shelby. The facility was a place where soldiers could come for recreation, relaxation, and socialization. Examples of services provided at the USO included a library, darkroom, lounge, counseling, music, mail service, religious literature, and sewing service. Prior to becoming the African American Military History Museum, the former USO building housed the N.R. Burger Center which served as a museum and community space to commemorate the allegiance of African-American soldiers through displays of historical documents, artifacts, and photographs. Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Global War on Terrorism, and Hattiesburg Hall of Honor. Between 2009 and 2012, approximately 13,000 visitors had toured the museum. On February 10, 2013, an EF-4 tornado passed through Hattiesburg. During the storm, the roof of the Museum was severely damaged, causing exhibits and artifacts to be soaked by rain. Museum personnel estimated that the structure would be closed for at least one year for restoration and announced that museum artifacts had been relocated to another facility for storage. Following a year of reconstruction, the museum officially reopened on February 6, 2014. Estimates of damage from the tornado were $450,000 to the building and $600,000 to the museum contents. Official Website African American Military History Museum Retrieved 2012-09-25
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about East Sixth Street USO Building
This page lists East Sixth Street USO Building. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was East Sixth Street USO Building listed on the National Register?
East Sixth Street USO Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 5, 2004.
What type of historic resource is East Sixth Street USO Building?
East Sixth Street USO Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for East Sixth Street USO Building?
The period of significance for East Sixth Street USO Building is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1942.
Can I research the history near East Sixth Street USO Building?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near East Sixth Street USO Building will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Forrest County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Forrest County.
Explore ForrestCounty ›More historic places in Mississippi
Browse all historic places in Mississippi.
View Mississippihistoric sites ›Mississippi history
Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.
Mississippihistory ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near East Sixth Street USO Building will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.