MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- The famed yellow footprints in front of the Receiving Barracks at MCRD San Diego, are a symbolic gateway to the Corps' future. Every Monday night, a new batch of wide-eyed, fearful civilians takes their first steps to earning the title "Marine."

One of the best-kept secrets in the San Diego area, just a quick walk from those footprints, connects the future of the Marine Corps to the past.

The MCRD San Diego Command Museum offers visitors a porthole view of life as a Marine throughout the Corps' history. The museum, tucked away neatly in the other Spanish Revival, adobe-style buildings, might be mistaken for another mundane office space. Make no mistake about it, the work that goes on inside this building is anything but mundane.

"The only way to keep our Marine heritage alive is to show the recruits and young Marines the men and women who came before them," said Ellen Guillemette, archivist and registrar, MCRD San Diego Command Museum. "It's important, because the stories of the past teach recruits and Marines what to look for in the future."

Every Wednesday, the museum opens its' doors to a company of recruits, and former Marines volunteer to act as tour guides. The idea that the Marine Corps experience is a common one drives the volunteers, called "docents," to share their personal experiences with the future Leathernecks.

"It's good for all Marines to have this experience to learn some history of the Marine Corps," said retired Lt. Col. Bill Threfall, museum docent. "A lot of things have changed since I was a Marine, but a lot of things are the same."

Not a recruit? That's alright. The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. With a collection to document nearly every historical milestone since the Marine Corps started operating in Southern California, the museum is a must-see for anybody with an interest in military history.

Gallery One, the California Room, is filled with paintings by the renowned, retired Col. Charles H. Waterhouse, Marine Artist in Residence depicting the "Conquest of California." The paintings show the first days of the Corps' operations in this region.

Gallery Two is dedicated to the history of MCRD San Diego. The physical base hasn't always been used for recruit training. After officially opening on Dec. 1, 1921, MCRD was formally known as Marine Advanced Expeditionary Base, San Diego, and was the shipping out point for Marines headed to China.

Gallery Three is a pictorial and written account of Marine Corps participation in 20th century warfare.

"We have everything from the Spanish-American War to nearly the present," said Guillemette. "We are working on an Afghanistan exhibit that will include a gun pit, Marine-made signs from Afghanistan, the new utility uniforms and other gear."

The Afghanistan portion of Gallery Three is scheduled to open in mid-December.

Other collections include the history of the Korean War, an exhibit of a recruit squad bay, an arms room filled with various weapons Marines have used, the Medals Room which showcases the awards recieved by Marines for actions in combat, and the Raiders Room dedicated to the Raider battalions of World War II.

"We also have the 'Hollywood Marine' Hallway with movie posters from nearly all the movies featuring Marines," said Guillemette.

Besides opening for recruits and the public, the museum can be visited by active-duty units as training, said Guillemette.

"A lot of active-duty groups come through for motivation," Guillemette said. "If they ask for tour guides, we will provide them."