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Local guide · Jacksonville

Lejeune Memorial Gardens

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Jacksonville is a Marine Corps town, and these free memorial gardens are where it remembers. They hold the Beirut Memorial, the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a beam from the World Trade Center, and the Montford Point Marine Memorial honoring the first Black Marines.

  • Jacksonville
  • Free
  • Memorials
  • Quiet reflection

Why families go

This is a place of remembrance rather than entertainment, and that’s why it’s worth the stop, especially for families with a connection to the military. Visitors describe the gardens as beautifully kept and deeply moving. Older children can learn a great deal here. The new Carolina Museum of the Marine sits in the same grounds, so the two make a natural half day.

Don’t miss

  • The Beirut Memorial’They Came In Peace,’ honoring the service members killed in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing.
  • The Onslow Vietnam Veterans MemorialGlass walls bearing the names of the fallen.
  • The Montford Point Marine MemorialDedicated in 2016 to the first Black Marines, who trained nearby.
  • The 9/11 beam and Corpsmen MemorialA World Trade Center beam and a 2022 memorial to Navy corpsmen.
The Montford Point Marine Memorial
Montford Point Marine Memorial
The 9/11 World Trade Center beam memorial
9/11 memorial beam

Photos: Carolina Museum of the Marine

Before you go

  • The gardens are off base and open to the public; parking is free.
  • Use NC 210 and US 17. NC 172 through Camp Lejeune is closed to civilians without base credentials, even if your GPS suggests it.
  • Annual observances are held here, including on September 11 and October 23 (Beirut).

Plan your visit

  • Where: 109 Montford Landing Rd., Jacksonville, NC (off base, beside the Carolina Museum of the Marine)
  • From Topsail: About 40 minutes from central Surf City (35 from North Topsail Beach) via NC 210 and US 17.
  • Hours: An outdoor public park; visit during daylight.
  • Admission: Free.
  • Official site: City of Jacksonville: Lejeune Memorial Gardens
  • More nearby: more family fun in Jacksonville

A short drive from the island. Browse our Topsail Island vacation rentals, all cared for by our local team.

Based on official information from the attraction and the agencies that run it; checked October 2026. Hours, seasons and schedules change, so confirm before you go.