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(left to right)
Brig Gen John A. Shuler, Deputy Adjutant General for State Operations
Maj Gen Stanhope S. Spears, Adjutant General of SC
Director Colonel (SC) Ewell G. Sturgis Jr.
Brig Gen Les Eisner, Deputy Adjutant General/
Brig Gen Ronald Huff, Chief of Staff of SCARNG
(National Guard photo by Maj. Scott Bell)
EXPANSION PLANS FOR THE MUSEUM - IN PROGRESS,
YOUR CAN HELP EXPAND THIS MUSEUM
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Military Museum announced plans in Columbia today to more than double its size this year. The new facility will add 9,000 sq. ft. to the existing 7,000 sq. ft. of space the museum has occupied since its grand opening on February 6, 2007.
Maj. Gen. Stanhope S. Spears, the Adjutant General of South Carolina, considers the expansion “remarkable” given the museum does not receive annual appropriations from Congress or the S.C. Legislature. He credits Buddy Sturgis, the museum’s director, the museum’s History Foundation Board, volunteers and donors for making the museum’s announcement today a reality. “These are tough economic times and to be able to expand says volumes about those who feel passionately about preserving our state’s 339 years of military history,” said Spears.
When the new addition is completed, Sturgis plans to expand the museum’s World War II, General William Westmoreland, Persian Gulf War and Global War on Terrorism exhibits. The plans also include new space for a dining and reception area where formal functions can be held and speakers brought in to share South Carolina’s military heritage with others. “Upstairs, we’ll have space for historians and students to do research on the tremendous contributions of our Citizen-Soldiers since 1670,” said Sturgis.
The S.C. Military Museum is located behind the Army National Guard armory on Bluff Road across from Williams-Brice Stadium (Home of the Gamecocks). It was established by Legislative Act 319, in 1998, under the auspices of The Adjutant General’s office for the purpose of preserving, displaying and interpreting the military history and artifacts of South Carolina’s Citizen-Soldiers. Admission is free.
If you would like to place a Gift or Donation towards the expansion effort of the SC Military Museum, please CLICK HERE!
To learn more about the S.C. Military Museum, please visit the website at: www.scguard.com/museum/index.html
Tours can be scheduled by writing the museum at: 1 National Guard Rd., Columbia, S.C. 29201, or calling: (803) 806-4440.
For more information please contact Museum Director Ewell (Buddy) G. Sturgis Jr (803)806-4440
