About
The Camp Butner Museum preserves the remarkable story of a World War II training camp that seemingly appeared overnight across more than 40,000 acres of North Carolina farmland, displacing hundreds of local families as nearly 1,800 military buildings rose in a matter of months.
More than 250,000 troops passed through Camp Butner—including the 78th “Lightning” Infantry Division, which went on to fight at Kesternich and cross the Rhine at Remagen—while the sprawling installation also housed thousands of German and Italian prisoners of war.
Today, uniforms, maps, archaeological finds, personal belongings, and remnants recovered from the former camp grounds tell the story of the civilians, soldiers, and prisoners whose lives briefly intersected in this almost-vanished wartime city.
Know Before You Go
The Museum is open on the first Saturday of each month. The hours are 10 am to 3 pm. Tours are always free, but we gracefully ask for donations to continue to preserve this history for generations to come, even after the last traces of the base fade into the forest growth.
Fast Food and others restaurants are nearby for anyone wanting to make a day of it.
This is a great destination for anyone interested in World War II history, or tracing the roots of the soldiers and units who spent time here from 1942-1946.
Base Planned - August 1941
Final Base Layout Approved - November 1941
Eviction Notices served to 250 families in 3 NC counties - January 1942
Base Construction Begins - February 1942
Base Officially Open - August 4, 1942
78th Lightning Division Activated - August 15, 1942
Italian and German Prisoners of war interred in POW Camp - September 7, 1943
Base Declared Inactive by the War Department - January 1946
Base Declared Excess by the War Department - January 1947
Early 1947, a newly evacuated town, capable of supporting 40,000 people becomes available to residents. Some of the acquired land was returned to its original owners. Military buildings were modified for civilian usage, and what couldn't be modified was unbolted and moved completely. The construction of the Temporary Buildings was such that they were sitting on concrete piers, and all you had to do was loosen the bolts holding the timbers, and you could jack up the building on a trailer and leave with it. Much of the town was disassembled this way. The museum also has unique perspective, as two of the museum curators are also the original 1947 residents of the newly evacuated town of Butner.
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Published
October 1, 2026
