The Marshallese Cultural Center

is located at Kwajalein in the Kwajalein Atoll--the largest atoll in the world. The Center promotes, preserves, and nurtures the culture and history of the Marshallese people.

The Cultural Center is operated by the Marshallese Cultural Society (MCS), an all-voluntary group chartered as a nonprofit corporation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The MCS works in association with the Alele Museum in Majuro. Our joint mission is to keep the Marshallese heritage alive for its young people and to share the wealth of its culture with the rest of the world.

History
On October 20, 1997 the Marshallese Cultural Center opened officially with an opening ceremony attended by Marshallese leadership and the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Commander. A second ceremony took place on February 2, 1998 to celebrate the completion of the traditional buildings on the center grounds.Marshallese Cultural Society
The planning group for the construction of the Cultural Center comprised representatives from the USAKA Environmental Department, the USAKA Public Affairs Office, the USAKA Hot Nations Office as well as the USAKA Logistics Contractor, and community volunteers. Volunteers were predominantly associated with the Yokwe Yuk Woman's Club. The USAKA Public Affairs Officer served as Ex Oficio Director
At one time a USAKA-based full-time Director was considered for the center. After reviewing limits to Army funding for museums USAKA Legal and Administrative personnel decided to cede operational responsibilities to a volunteer group while providing support for maintenance of the Cultural Center grounds and facility.
A core of volunteers worked with USAKA leadership to establish the working terms of a Memorandum of Understanding. In 1999 the USAKA Command formally recognized the Marshallese Cultural Society (MCS) as a private organization. The MCS now works closely with USAKA personnel to promote and organize events and exhibits. It does, however, function as an independent organization of volunteers drawn from the USAKA and Marshallese communities. A USAKA liaison is appointed by the USAKA Commander to assist in coordinating events. The MCS continues to receive funding from the USAKA Environmental Department for selected projects.
In 1999 MCS was registered as a nonprofit corporation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The members of the society select a Board of Directors. The Board includes two Adjunctive Advisory members who have special expertise in supporting the purpose of the organization. Up to present time these members have been representatives of the Marshallese traditional leaderships.
The Marshallese Cultural Society has operational responsibility for the programs and exhibits of the Cultural Center.

Cultural Center Buildings
The Cultural Center building was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The design by Architect Bob Wanslow evokes the lines of traditional island dwellings. Members of the 23rd Engineering Company, Special Troops Battalion from Fort Richardson, Alaska completed the structure in two months, from September to December 1996. Several traditional village structures complement the main facility. The first building was a shelter built with Kosraen materials by a group from Kosrae in 1997. This building was moved to another location and new buildings consisting of two sleeping houses, two cook houses, and one Iroijlaplap (Paramount Chief) shelter were constructed by a group from the Arno Atoll in early 1998. These buildings collapsed under the force of an unusual squall (which clocked the second strongest gusts ever recorded on Kwajalein). In September 2000 new buildings were erected under the direction of Iroij (Chief) Michael Kabua using materials and workers from the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands.