Celebrate National Medal of Honor Day with a free program at 2pm and free admission 10am-4pm.

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award, given only for acts of extraordinary bravery. Only a small number of service members in our entire history have earned it, which shows just how extraordinary their actions were. Please join us on National Medal of Honor Day as we pay tribute to recipients Sp4c. Gary George Wetzel, U.S. Army (Ret.) and Sgt. Allen James Lynch, U.S. Army (Ret.) as they talk to us about their experiences as recipients of the Medal of Honor. We will also be joined by Cheryl McCrary, Former Mrs. Wisconsin Royalty International/Recording Artist for a special performance and the Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard. 

This day's free admission grants you entry into the exhibit area.

Current Exhibits Include:

Behind the Lines: Combat Artists and The Citadel Experience (on display from November 20, 2025 - May 23, 2026): Behind the Lines: Combat Artists and The Citadel Experience offer a unique look at life at The Citadel through the eyes of professional combat artists. The exhibition features paintings and drawings that capture daily activities of cadets—from drills and classes to quiet moments between routines.

Using skills honed in the Marine Corps Combat Art Program, the artists focus on both the discipline and the human side of cadet life. The result is an insightful, visually engaging way to understand the experiences and challenges of those who train at The Citadel.

The U.S. Marine Corps Air-Ground Team: Art from the Collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps "On the Road" (on display from February 26, 2026 - May, 23, 2026): The Marine Corps Combat Art Program relies on talented Marines and civilians to document the ongoing missions of the Corps. The guidance they get is simple: “Go to war and do art.” The 32 works of art speak to the experiences of the artists, most of whom were deployed around the globe. The show is divided among five themes: origins of Marine Corps aviation, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and today’s global force in readiness. 

Medal of Honor Display (our permanent Medal of Honor Gallery is currently undergoing renovation): Featured prominently in the Museum & Library's display dedicated to the Medal of Honor, this Hershel "Woody" Williams collection includes a citation and authentic Navy Medal of Honor issued to former Marine Woody Williams, a veteran of the iconic Battle of Iwo Jima.

Hershel “Woody” Williams was born in 1923 and raised in West Virginia. After initially being rejected by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 for being too short, he was able to join the Marine Corps Reserve a few months later when the height requirement was reduced. On October 30, 1943, he joined the 32nd Replacement Battlion, which was sent to fight in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Williams fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal and in Guam before landing on Iwo Jima on February 21, 1945.

Cold Steel: The Evolution of the Bayonet Display: Step into history and experience the power of a single piece of steel that shaped America’s battles and the spirit of its soldiers. This immersive exhibit follows the bayonet’s remarkable journey from the American Revolution to the 1990s, featuring 16 rarely seen artifacts from the PMML Collection. From the icy night of Washington’s crossing of the Delaware, to the mud-soaked trenches of World War I, to the dense, unforgiving jungles of Vietnam, the bayonet has remained a steadfast symbol of the courage, grit, and duty of the Citizen Soldier. Get closer than ever to these priceless pieces, displayed as they were meant to be seen. Uncover the personal stories of the men who carried them into history.