Impressions of Virginia: National Museum of the Marine Corps

Dawn and Laural’s next stop in July 2021, the National Museum of the Marine Corps Museum near the Quantico Marine base. The duo left early enough and were prepared for the heat to meet them before leaving the site. In true Virginia fashion, as the day progressed, so did the heat and humidity. Upon arrival, a clear, cloudless blue sky met them.

Quick sidenote: Dawn and Laural discussed their limited schedule to capture the scenery and architecture for "Impressions of Virginia". Their adventures were planned out and strategized ahead of time. There was little wiggle room for rescheduling because of circumstances not being ‘ideal’ on the day of an adventure. The two for the majority of the time were blessed. Yet, at times there were ‘opportunities for growth’ in mindset of what they expected on some of the journey. Therefore, at times it required creativity and skill to compose final products. Both artists have discussed in previous posts on their individual processes (www.impressionsofvirginia.com) scroll down on main page to see these blogs), how the obstacles set before them have helped each grow in their profession.

Digital Art rendition of the National Museum of the Marine Corps © Dew Photography VA

All images featured will not be part of the exhibit. If interested in an image shared, contact the Artist to discuss purchase

Dawn and Laural have both visited the museum in the past. Yet, it had been more than 10 years since either had been there. For this exhibit, each went to see their impression on this specific day in July, 2021 after their long absences of visiting this site. However, today, we will share a brief history and the mission of the museum provided by the website, www.usmcmuseum.com instead of their impressions:

The National Museum of the Marine Corps, under the command of Marine Corps University, preserves and exhibits the material history of the U.S. Marine Corps; honors the commitment, accomplishments, and sacrifices of Marines; supports recruitment, training, education, and retention of Marines; and provides the public with a readily accessible platform for the exploration of Marine Corps history.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines--past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and under the command of Marine Corps University, the Museum's soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to this 120,000-square-foot structure. World-class interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology surround visitors with irreplaceable artifacts and immerse them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. The Museum is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The Foundation was established in 1979 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to support the historical programs of the Marine Corps in ways not possible through government funds. The Foundation’s current primary mission is to secure the necessary funding to complete the construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. They also support the Museum's volunteer and educational programs.

Want to know more about Laural and Dawn's impressions of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and see the resulting artwork in person? Come to the Opening Night of their exhibit "Impressions of Virginia" on December 10th, 2021 at Dockside Realty in Colonial Beach, VA.