In 1891, U.S. Marines were originally stationed on Parris Island to protect life and property as part of the Naval Station, Port Royal. In 1915, Parris Island officially became a Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Women became a permanent part of the U.S. Marine Corps in 1948. Today Parris Island boasts a historic district with homes and military structures built between 1891 and World War I, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. These postcards track the history of Parris Island and the rich heritage, character, and changes that mark it as the oldest major post in the U.S. Marine Corps.