Camp Russell
During World War II the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the United States Marine Corps camped in this area from June 1942 to October 1943.
The 2nd Infantry Regiment was based here at Camp Russell, the 6th Infantry at Camp MacKay across the highway on Whareroa Farm and the 8th Infantry at the northern end of Paekakariki.
The Marines fought at Guadalcanal in 1912, the 2nd Division returning to Paekakariki for rest and recovery during the winter of 1943. Departing again in November 1943, the 2nd Division saw action on Taiawa Atoll, Saipan, Tinian Island and Okinawa, eventually landing at Nagasaki in September 1945 as part of the allied occupation forces. The Divisions casualties during the Pacific campaign were 2,795 killed and 9,600 wounded.
The Wellington Regional Council in association with the Kapiti Coast District Council erected these interpretative displays in the form of a re-recreated camp in June 1992 to mark the 50th Anniversary return visit of servicemen from the United States of America.