The African American Military History Museum is scheduled to kick off the holiday season with the annual Christmas Open House. The event is set from 12 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.
The museum will welcome visitors to a festive afternoon of complimentary hot cocoa, light hors d’oeuvres, a free gift wrap station, a children’s activity corner, and holiday tunes provided by local carolers. Kids can share their wish list and pose for pictures with Santa.
“This year, we want to encourage our guests to visit with us, have some refreshments and enjoy the festivities we have planned before or after their Saturday shopping,” said Latoya Norman, general manager for Hattiesburg Convention Commission Museums. “We’ll offer a range of holiday themed activities for all to delight in.”
Guests can also enjoy visiting museum exhibits and holiday gift shop. Admission to Christmas Open House is free and open to the public, but visitors are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit the Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center’s Toys for Tots campaign. The museum will continue collecting toys throughout the month of December.
For additional information, contact the museum at 601.450.1942.
The African American Military History Museum, located at 305 East 6th Street in downtown Hattiesburg, is dedicated to preserving the Historic East 6th Street USO Club and the collections within, in order to provide individuals of all ages the opportunity to increase their awareness and knowledge of the African American experiences and contributions in the United States Armed Forces.
It is currently the only surviving restored USO built exclusively for African American soldiers and in 2003 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. More than 150 years of African American military history is on display in the Museum. For more information, call 601.450.1942 or visit HattiesburgUSO.com.
