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Parris Island Recruit Depot
Maps of Parris Island, directions to specific locations, and a map of a self-guided driving tour are available at the Visitor’s Center.
Narrated bus tours of Parris Island depart from the Douglas Visitor’s Center every Thursday at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
For reservations, call (843) 228-3650 or (843) 228-3297.
For more information about regular or special events, call (843) 228-3650.
The famous Parris Island Recruit Depot, “Where We Make Marines,” has tours, a museum and graduations open to the public that are guaranteed to make you “bust a button” with pride.
Before there were Marines, there was war on Parris Island as the French and the Spanish, with some help and some interference from Native Americans, displaced one another’s early settlements. Archaeological digs have uncovered the sites of Spanish and French forts, as well as remnants of the oldest European pottery kiln discovered in the U.S. A Spanish monument and four information panels detail the history of this site.
Some 19,000 recruits are trained at Parris Island each year during peacetime. Marine graduation from Parris Island is an impressive event. It is open to the public and takes place most Fridays.
Parris Island Museum
The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for holidays. On Thursdays before graduations, the museum is open until 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The Parris Island Museum in the War Memorial Building is large with an impressive collection of photographs, artifacts and, memorabilia that depict the history of Parris Island since the French Huguenots landed in 1562. The museum is chock-full of exhibits about historic Beaufort – including 127 different types of weapons – depicting all the wars the Marine Corps has been involved in. There is an exhibit of vintage uniforms and weapons, and displays showing Marines in World War II and Vietnam. Civil War buffs and kids will enjoy the big Civil War display with its miniature battle scenes.
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