thedrifter
08-08-08, 07:10 AM
Official: Marines’ museum a major attraction
By Cheryl Chumley
Published: August 7, 2008
Since its opening in November 2006, an estimated 850,000 people have visited the Marine Corps Heritage Museum in Triangle, according to statements made to Prince William supervisors during a Tuesday meeting.
"That averages out to about 2,000 people a day," said Col. Raymond Hord, who was at the board meeting to apprise the public of the upcoming museum expansion. "We've become one of the major attractions in the county."
Plans are to double the current 100,000 square feet of museum space during a Phase II of construction, with ground-breaking for a chapel to go forth as early as next month.
Hord's presentation also included a DVD presentation to supervisors that showed how the 135-acre campus has developed so far. Once expanded, Hord said, the museum will also offer feature-length films in a state-of-the-art theater, a Devil Dog café, new art and studio classrooms and four additional exhibit galleries. Completion, of course, depends largely upon funding.
"We are asking you to help us complete the Marine Corps Heritage Center," Hord said. "Once finished, we will have a playground, park, chapel and places of remembrance and reflection … The national museum of the Marine Corps isn't just about displaying tanks."
It's more a means of becoming immersed in Marine heritage, history and bravery, he said.
Of interest to note is the real-life Marine figures within the museum were actually cast from the faces of living, breathing Marines—they were all "derived from human models," Hord said.
"It was a fairly rigorous process," he added. "Goop was poured over the human model [who was dressed] in underwear and poses lasted up to four hours."
Phase II construction so far has seen the completion of the playground, Hord said.
"The chapel," he went on, "we will break ground late next month or early October, and should be done by mid-summer of next year."
Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, whose district is home to the museum, said walking trails around the building will also be constructed. Entry to the museum is free; however, donations are accepted.
Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.
Ellie
By Cheryl Chumley
Published: August 7, 2008
Since its opening in November 2006, an estimated 850,000 people have visited the Marine Corps Heritage Museum in Triangle, according to statements made to Prince William supervisors during a Tuesday meeting.
"That averages out to about 2,000 people a day," said Col. Raymond Hord, who was at the board meeting to apprise the public of the upcoming museum expansion. "We've become one of the major attractions in the county."
Plans are to double the current 100,000 square feet of museum space during a Phase II of construction, with ground-breaking for a chapel to go forth as early as next month.
Hord's presentation also included a DVD presentation to supervisors that showed how the 135-acre campus has developed so far. Once expanded, Hord said, the museum will also offer feature-length films in a state-of-the-art theater, a Devil Dog café, new art and studio classrooms and four additional exhibit galleries. Completion, of course, depends largely upon funding.
"We are asking you to help us complete the Marine Corps Heritage Center," Hord said. "Once finished, we will have a playground, park, chapel and places of remembrance and reflection … The national museum of the Marine Corps isn't just about displaying tanks."
It's more a means of becoming immersed in Marine heritage, history and bravery, he said.
Of interest to note is the real-life Marine figures within the museum were actually cast from the faces of living, breathing Marines—they were all "derived from human models," Hord said.
"It was a fairly rigorous process," he added. "Goop was poured over the human model [who was dressed] in underwear and poses lasted up to four hours."
Phase II construction so far has seen the completion of the playground, Hord said.
"The chapel," he went on, "we will break ground late next month or early October, and should be done by mid-summer of next year."
Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, whose district is home to the museum, said walking trails around the building will also be constructed. Entry to the museum is free; however, donations are accepted.
Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.
Ellie