Atlas Obscura · People & society

Camp Butner Museum Preserves WWII History

The Camp Butner Museum in North Carolina preserves the history of a World War II training camp that rapidly transformed over 40,000 acres of farmland, displacing local families.

The museum showcases artifacts like uniforms, maps, and personal belongings that tell the stories of civilians, soldiers, and prisoners of war who were at Camp Butner. Over 250,000 troops trained there, including the 78th "Lightning" Infantry Division, and the camp also housed German and Italian POWs.

Established in 1942, the base was officially closed by the War Department in January 1946 and declared excess in January 1947. Much of the town's temporary military buildings were designed to be disassembled and moved for civilian use.

The museum is open on the first Saturday of each month from 10 am to 3 pm. Tours are free, with donations appreciated. It is a destination for those interested in WWII history or the units that trained there between 1942 and 1946.

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