Army Women's Museum, Fort Lee, Virginia

The logo, now called the "Flying Face" was designed by Elyse Alley Darling, a graphic designer from North Carolina. The symbolism to include the colors were developed by the Director of the museum. The symbolism embodies the character that "Army Women" aspire to in the shape of the design and the colors. The shape, of course, is that of a female; the gold symbolizes excellence; and the red, white and blue symbolizes patriotism; hence "patriotic women of excellence." The "Flying Face" also signifies moving forward to the future.

Sneak Preview of Exhibit Galleries

History of the U.S. Army Women's Museum

Flag Raising at Dedication

From 1954 to 1976, Fort McClellan, Alabama was home of the Women's Army Corps. The Women's Army Corps Museum was officially opened there on 14 May 1955, the 13th Anniversary of the Women's Army Corps. It was first located in one room of the WAC Headquarters building. Shortly thereafter, it was relocated to a wing of the WAC Training Battalion headquarters building at the WAC Center, Fort McClellan. The museum moved into the new WAC Museum Building in 1977.

On 18 August 1961, the WAC Museum was renamed the Edith Nourse Rogers Museum in honor of the Congresswoman from Massachusetts who introduced bills that established the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and then WAC (Women's Army Corps) giving the organization full Army status in 1943. In 1977, the decision was made to return to the original title of the Women's Army Corps Museum. This was done in order to closely connect the name of the museum with its contents as previous established.

In 1997, Congress announced that Fort McClellan would close on 30 September 1999. Fort Lee, Virginia was chosen as the new home of the Women's Army Corps Museum (now the U.S. Army Women's Museum). Fort Lee has significant historical ties to the Women's Army Corps. It was the home of the First Regular Army WAC Training Center and WAC School from 1948 to 1954, before moving to Fort McClellan.

The groundbreaking for the museum was held on April 9, 1999. Museum construction was completed in October 2000. Dedication of the museum was 11 May 2001 and was held in conjunction with the Army Women's Reunion (9-12 May 2001). Regular museum hours begin on 15 May 2001. The museum is located next to the Army Quartermaster Museum on Avenue A, Fort Lee, Virginia. The museum now in accordance with its name, "U.S. Army Women's Museum," appropriately represents all women in the Army.

Additional information was added by the Director on 19 April 2003 to tell the complete story and background of the museum. See further information regarding the history of the museum by clicking on this link: Chronology of the Museum.

AWM Mission

The mission of the Army Women's Museum is to collect, preserve, research, exhibit and interpret historically significant properties related to service of women across all branches and organizations of the United States Army from inception to present day. A secondary purpose of the museum will be to support military training and education of women through its exhibitions, publications, educational programs, and all outreach activities.

Partners in History

Women in the Army today may ask, "what is this museum that has been built at Fort Lee, Virginia?" They can rest assured that the U.S. Army Women’s Museum will represent them and their accomplishments as an important part of the U.S. Army.

The museum represents all women who have served in the Army from the Revolutionary War to present day. The facility is 13,325 square feet and replaced the Women’s Army Corps Museum after closure of Fort McClellan in Alabama due to base closure and realignment by the Army. That post closed on September 30, 1999, and the museum construction was completed in October 2000.

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Donations

The Army Women's Museum is requesting donations from today's soldiers. Items sought include, uniform items, equipment, military insignia (medals, patches, etc...) military records and photographs from women who have served in recent operations such as "Operation Iraqi Freedom," Kosovo, Haiti, Bosnia, and "Operation Desert Shield/Storm". Additionally, the museum is seeking to collect items from women who have served in the Army Nurse Corps and the Women Air Service Pilots.

Make sure you contact the museum before sending any items. To make donations contact the museum at, telephone (804) 734-4327, DSN 687-4327 or e-mail mailto:hilla2@lee.army.mil.

FOR INFORMATION:

Address:

U.S. Army Women's Museum
2100 Adams Avenue
Building P-5219
Fort Lee, VA 23801-2100

E-Mail

mailto:hilla2@lee.army.mil

Telephone:

(804) 734-4326, Director
(804) 734-4456, Museum Specialist
(804) 734-4327, Museum Technician

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