The General Douglas MacArthur Foundation

About the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation

In 1962, General Douglas MacArthur executed a deed of gift in which he gave the City of Norfolk his personal papers and the artifacts of his life.  The General Douglas MacArthur Foundation (501c3) was established in 1962 to commemorate his remarkable life and legacy and to provide supplemental support for the MacArthur Memorial, a museum he established with the City of Norfolk to house and display his collection. Since then, in line with his hopes that the museum would also preserve and share the stories of men and women who served with him, the collection has grown to include artifacts and archival collections that tell these incredible stories. 

The City of Norfolk owns the collection and staffs and operates the MacArthur Memorial.  The General Douglas MacArthur Foundation supports the MacArthur Memorial's stewardship of the collection and provides funding for conservation, exhibits, and educational programming, in addition to encouraging scholarship and providing leadership awards.

For over 60 years, the stability of this relationship between the City of Norfolk and the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation has ensured the evolution of the MacArthur Memorial into an internationally recognized museum, research, and education center - comparable to a presidential library.

This unique partnership in the heart of downtown Norfolk, is committed to preserving and presenting the story of General MacArthur and the stories of the millions of men and women who served with him.  To date, the MacArthur Memorial has welcomed nearly 5.5 million visitors and annually provides 120,000+ patrons with free programming. Donations to the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation have helped make this possible. 

Learn more about the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation.