FSU's World War II History on the Move!

09/08/2025

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A piece of World War II history has found a new home. On Tuesday, August 12, FSU Facilities managed the relocation of barracks from the northwest edge of Main Campus to Tallahassee State College (TSC) for preservation at the future Dale Mabry Army Air Field Museum. A heavy-duty hydraulic modular trailer transported the 1,600-square-foot former duplex, which had been repurposed as administrative space at FSU.

Known as the Mabry Building or Building 264 to the FSU Community, the duplex was an original off-base housing for soldiers stationed at Dale Mabry Army Airfield during World War II. It was located on Hull Drive, between the Westside Courts and Rogers Hall, and housed married non-commissioned officers.

Housing units at Dale Mabry Army Air Field in 1949, located on what is now the northwest corner of campus. Courtesy of Florida State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives.

The Mabry Building has had a diverse history on FSU's campus following the war, serving as the home for various research initiatives and centers. Former FSU President Emeritus John Thrasher advocated for the permanent relocation of the Mabry Building to the Air Field Museum. It is one of the few remaining structures from the Air Field and stands as a symbol of Tallahassee's contribution during World War II.

Contractors secured the Mabry Building to the back of a modular trailer and headed to its permanent home at TSC.

The duplex was transported to the five-acre site on the TSC campus under the supervision of Facilities Zone A staff and FSU Police Department. This location, which once housed an airfield, will eventually be the site of a museum. The airbase was significant for training French, Chinese, and American fighter pilots, including the barrier-breaking Tuskegee Airmen.

For more information on the Tallahassee region's military history and to learn more about the Dale Mabry Army Airfield Museum, visit https://dmaaf.org/.