The MacArthur Memorial is a memorial, museum, and research center about the life of

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...

. It consists of three buildings on MacArthur Square in

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

. MacArthur never lived in Norfolk but his mother, Mary Pinkney "Pinky" Hardy MacArthur, was born and raised in Norfolk and he had fond memories of visiting her family home, Riveredge, as a boy. His mother's connection with Norfolk was why he decided to be buried there after visiting Norfolk in 1951 to dedicate a park in honor of his mother on land where Riveredge once stood. The city of Norfolk's government built the memorial in the 1960s and has continued to own, renovate, and operate it due to a promise made between MacArthur and the then mayor of Norfolk, W. Fred Duckworth, in 1960. Although MacArthur had been approached by many cities about his funeral and gravesite plans, Duckworth's offer was the most intriguing one. MacArthur agreed to turn over all of his papers, medals, and memorabilia to the city of Norfolk and agreed to be buried in Norfolk as long as he and his wife would be buried within the memorial. Duckworth offered the former Norfolk City Hall building as a combined museum and mausoleum to honor MacArthur. * Memorial – located in the former Norfolk City Hall building, the memorial houses the tomb of General MacArthur and his wife in the rotunda, and the museum that spans nine galleries about his life and career. Exhibits include photos, uniforms, flags, medals, weapons, personal artifacts, paintings, and sculpture. The Memorial also pays tribute to the men and women who served with General MacArthur in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. * Visitor Center – includes the MacArthur Memorial Theater showing a 27-minute movie about MacArthur's life, a special exhibit gallery, the general's personal staff car, and other vehicles from World War II, a gift shop, rest rooms, and offices. * Jean MacArthur Research Center – houses the general's personal archives, memorabilia, and collections, including his trophies, medals, prizes, decorations, uniforms, flags, swords, battle souvenirs, personal papers, along with both official and other documents. The building also includes educational facilities and offices. It is open to researchers by appointment. Admission is free.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:MacArthur Memorial Biographical museums in Virginia Mausoleums in the United States Military and war museums in Virginia Monuments and memorials in Virginia

Memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as home ...

Museums in Norfolk, Virginia 1964 establishments in Virginia

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