Skip to content
White Military Alliance Flyer-2

MCRD Command Museum Courtyard

Join the San Diego Gulls as they Launch their Military Alliance Program, featuring their Head Coach, 5 Gulls Players, Mascot Gulliver, and members of their "Flight Crew" in a powerful celebrations of community & service. 

8 October, 2024 @ 1300-1700

Marine Corps Reunion Flyer

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Museum San Diego


Marine Corps Recruit Depot Museum San Diego

WHERE THE PAST TOUCHES THE FUTURE

Dedicated to all who have and will commit themselves to the most honorable service. The MCRD Museum opened its doors in 1987 due to the hard work of Marine retirees and veterans, their families, and friends of the Marine Corps.  Since its opening, the Museum has served the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego/Western Recruiting Region through its misson to train recruits and provide for the continuing education of Marines, support the recruiting effort, and serve as a bridge to the civilian community.

The Museum is a public-private partnership between the United States Marine Corps and the MCRD Museum Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that supports the Command Museum through programs to educate and strengthen the bonds of community between active duty, veterans, families and the public community. Their generous support also runs the Command Museum's website and social media.

The Museum is open to the general public six days a week. It is closed on Sundays and all Federal Holidays. Normal musuem operating hours are Monday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Tuesday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors should enter through Gate 5, the Washington Street gate, and if visiting Monday - Friday, stop first at the base's Visitor Center (Pass & ID) to request a visitor pass. Note:  Visitors 18 years of age and older must have REALID compliant government issued identification. For questions about base access and ID types, please contact the base's Visitor Center (Pass & ID) at (619) 524-4200, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM (3:00 PM on Fridays; closed on Federal Holidays). 

The MCRD Museum's major galleries are: Recruit Training at San Diego; the Mexican-American War in California; the Centennial of the Base; World War I; War II; the Korean War; the Vietnam War; and the Forward Deployed Gallery, an amalgam of history post-Vietnam featuring operations in the 1980's and 1900's such as Grenada and Beirut, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and the 2000's and 2010's Global War on Terror featuring conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Smaller exhibits include the history of the Marine Corps Womens Reserve (MCWR) in World War II; Medals and Decorations, Edged Weapons, and Firearms.  Field guns are displayed in the museum's courtyard behind the museum building.

Get Base Access

In order for you to get on the base for museum events, we need to collect certain information in advance.

This form is only for those who are 18 and older and who do not already have base access. Those who may already have access include people who have active duty/reserve ID cards, 100% disabled ID cards, Dependent, Retired, or Retired Dependent ID cards,  DOD civilian employee ID, or VA health ID that says 'service connected' and has already been registered at MCRD's Pass and ID office (the VA cards registered at other bases don't apply).

JOIN THE SUPPORT REGIMENT

The MCRD Museum Foundation depends upon membership fees, grants, and donations to conduct its business of supporting the MCRD Command Museum, the Marines and Sailors of MCRD, San Diego, and the Western Recruiting Region.

JOIN THE SUPPORT REGIMENT

SPONSORS & DONORS

The MCRD Museum Foundation established a Sponsors and Donors Wall to honor and recognize Marines and organizations, especially those with a connection to MCRD San Diego, and recognizes donors and supporters at various levels of giving.

SPONSORS & DONORS

OUR IMPACT

Over the past 8 years the MCRD Museum Foundation has contributed over 1 million dollars to the Command Museum. We've recently announced a number of new Museum programs and technological upgrades.

VETERAN OUTREACH & INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

VOICE is the MCRD Command Museum's latest program supported by the Foundation, which is aimed at bringing together Marines, veterans, and the community together at a familiar place, the Depot where Marines are born.

VETERAN OUTREACH & INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT