Marine Corps Heritage Center

National Museum of the Marine Corps

Marine Corps Council

Charles Grow, Deputy Director

Chuck Girbovan, Exhibits Chief

21 Nov 2009

Current Operations

• Attendance: 1.6M visitors• Tourism Trends: Virginia Tourism Corp reports

all tourism indicators declined 8-10% in Virginia (visitor centers, state parks, gas sales, car rentals, hotel stays, airport passengers)

• Visitor Data: AASLH, 12-month on-line survey• Strategic Communications Plan: Continues to

guide us; emphasis on earned media nation-wide and marketing to mid-Atlantic region

• Education: focused on VA SOLs, partnering with educators throughout the region

Federal Resources

• FY10 O&M: $8.56M • Civilian Staffing: 49 billets, 7 vacancies• Visitor Services Marines:

– Ambassadors in dress blues – Overwhelmingly well-received by visitors– Provides a uniformed human face for the Corps of today and

tomorrow– 18-24-month tours, support education, rehabilitation, etc.

• MILCON P492: replace NMMC bldgs on MCBQ

Strat Plan—Wave Tops

• Support Recruitment, Retention, Education: PMEs; Marine Week exhibition; recruitment info kiosk planned

• Accreditation: On track to apply in CY2010– Collections Mgmt Policies: All required policies,

procedures in place– Collections Stewardship: Upgraded storage bldgs on

MCBQ; added shelving, equipment– Collections Inventory: Serious progress being made

on huge backlog; goal is to complete in CY2010

Phase 2

Phase 1A

Phase 1A Gallery Space

Phase 1A Galleries

• Fabricating 3 New Galleries: Interpret USMC history, 1775-1918

• Visitor experience: Minimizing impact during construction

• GWOT: Providing alternative temporary interpretation of today’s Marine Corps story

Gallery 6: 1775-1865

Gallery 7: 1866 - 1916

Gallery 8: 1917 - 1918

Phase 2

• Architectural Design: 100% complete • Key Issues:

– Visitor egress– Large artifact ingress and placement

• Exhibitions: Concept work began in Nov 2008• Permanent Galleries: To cover USMC history 1976-

present; changing gallery; art gallery; visible storage; sports hall of fame

• Other Features: Large-screen theater; 2 classrooms & performance space; student lunchroom; permanent exhibit, visitor services, education work spaces; simulators; office space

• Gallery 9: Installation of final Option 1A gallery (1919-1940)

NMMC - Phase 2 – 1st Deck

NMMC - Phase 2 – 2d Deck

www.usmcmuseum.orgcharles.grow@usmc.mil

charles.girbovan@usmc.mil