Visit the Parris Island Museum, where every artifact holds a story. Our displays range from Spanish and French settlements during the 16th century, to the development of Parris Island as a training depot for U.S. Marines, to exhibits on World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Every Marine who trains at Parris Island walks through our hallowed halls to learn more about their legacy. Be sure to check out the video on the trials of modern recruit training while visiting!
Monday through Saturday, 1000-1630 Thursday and Friday, 0800-1630 *Graduation Weeks Only* Gift Store closes at 1600
Closed Sundays and Federal Holidays
Front Desk 843-228-2951 Email
pimuseum@usmc.mil
Address 676 Panama Street Parris Island, South Carolina 29905
Civilians unaffiliated with the military are permitted on base to visit the museum. When you arrive at the front gate at Parris Island, tell the Military Police you are going to the museum.
You must present a valid government-issued photo identification card (For More Details on REAL ID), vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
If you are driving a rental car, present a copy of the rental agreement. Then, follow these directions to the museum: - After getting through the front gate, take the third exit on the roundabout.
- Drive approximately 2.5 miles down Malecon Drive, which turns into Boulevard de France once buildings appear.
- Take a right on Samoa St, directly after you pass under the “We Make Marines Sign.”
- Drive one block and take a left on Panama St. The museum is on your right. Look for the Japanese field guns in front of the building.
Our building was constructed in 1951, before most standards about accessibility were established. We have accessibility parking and a ramp for access on the left side, around the back of the building. There is a doorbell on that door – please ring and someone will come open the doors for you.
Photos are permitted throughout the museum. Outside, photos for personal use are permitted. Please do not take photos of recruits or permanent personnel on base.
Group visits and tour buses must contact the Visits Officer to receive approval for their group. (For More Information)
The Parris Island Museum holds a vast archival collection as well as significant amounts of reference materials related to Parris Island, the Marine Corps, and Beaufort County. Our staff can assist with small research requests with specific goals but recommend physical visits for larger projects. You can reach out with more questions and to make an appointment through our “Contact Us” form or send an email to pimuseum@usmc.mil.
Unfortunately, Parris Island does not have rosters containing the names of those who have attended Marine Corps recruit training here. If you are looking for information on a specific individual, we recommend using genealogy sites such as ancestry.com or fold3.com. If you are a DOD servicemember, family, or civilian, you can access these databases through dodmwrlibraries.org. If you are a family member or veteran looking for their DD-214, go to www.archives.gov and click on “Veterans’ Service Records.”
The Parris Island Museum has a small collection of platoon books dating back to 1950. We only have books that have been donated to us through the years. If you are looking for a yearbook, you may reach out using the “Contact Us” form or send an email to pimuseum@usmc.mil. Please make sure you have the date of graduation and platoon number. This is the only way we can determine if we have a particular platoon book in our collection; there are no lists or rosters that correlate names with platoon numbers and years. If we do have the platoon book you are seeking, we can send scans of the book by email to you.
For a copy of your platoon photo, call 843-228-1555 or 1546. Make sure you have your platoon number and year ready when you call.