The African American Military History Museum is in Hattiesburg, not Meridian, so it is not a Meridian attraction. The museum interprets African American soldiers’ service and sacrifice across conflicts from the Revolutionary War through Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Location: 305 E. 6th St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401
- Building history: Opened in 1942 as a USO club for African American soldiers stationed at Camp Shelby
- Regular touring hours: Wednesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- In Meridian: Civil Rights and Civil War trails, a railroad museum, and music trail markers
The museum and its historical focus
The museum preserves the history of a former USO club built to serve African American soldiers stationed at Camp Shelby. The building opened in 1942, and it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Mississippi Landmark.
Inside, the museum’s historical scope reaches from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Its focus is the service and sacrifice of African American soldiers, giving the former military gathering place a direct connection to the story it tells.
What visitors can see
Displays include artifacts, photographs and Spanish-American War medals. The Hattiesburg visitor bureau describes the medal collection as one of the most complete authentic sets.
The collection spans objects and images, while the museum’s broader interpretation follows African American military service across several eras. Together, the historic building and its displays connect the site’s original purpose with its present role.
Hours, admission, and accessibility
The Hattiesburg visitor bureau gives regular touring hours as Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m., and provides the museum’s phone number: 601-450-1942. Before setting out, check the museum’s official site for current visiting details.
The address is 305 E. 6th St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Contact the museum directly to confirm admission and accessibility details before your visit.
Nearby Meridian history stops
Meridian’s own history attractions include a Civil Rights Trail with 18 markers. The trail starts at the African-American Business District marker at 25th Avenue and Fifth Street.
Its first seven markers are within blocks of one another and can be toured on foot; a vehicle is needed for the rest. Allow at least two hours for the full trail. QR codes at the markers link to short videos through a smartphone app.
The Meridian Civil War Trail has 10 markers and begins beside the railroad tracks just east of the Railroad Museum. For downtown context around these sites, how downtown Meridian fits together can help you plan a route.
The Meridian Railroad Museum is at 1805 Front Street, beside railroad cars displayed next to the 1906 Union Station. Merrehope, a historic mansion at 905 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, sits on the edge of downtown.
A one-day Meridian itinerary can help you combine local stops. The city also has three Mississippi Blues Trail markers and four Mississippi Country Music Trail markers.
Motel 6-Meridian is a three-star motel in Meridian; the African American Military History Museum, however, is in Hattiesburg.
FAQs
Is the African American Military History Museum in Meridian?
No. It is at 305 E. 6th St. in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
What does the museum cover?
It interprets African American soldiers’ service and sacrifice from the Revolutionary War through Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Which days is the museum regularly open?
Regular touring hours are Wednesday through Saturday, with different hours on Saturday. Check the museum’s official site before going.
What history trails can you visit in Meridian?
Meridian has Civil Rights and Civil War trails, as well as Mississippi Blues and Country Music Trail markers.