THE ULTIMATE WWII COLLECTIBLE
Own a Tangible Piece of History.
Authentic WWII Beach Sand Collector Plaques.
Our sand is sourced from the original WWII US landing sites. Once the current collection is sold out, we cannot guarantee availability.
June 6th, 1944
D-Day, June 6th, is a date etched in history, marking the moment when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France to start the liberation of Europe from Axis domination. However, these beaches, codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword, were not the first nor the last to see such invasions during World War II.
Meanwhile, in the Pacific, the United States Navy was landing countless Marines on obscure remote islands, many of their names are still unheard of even today.
Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the citizens of the United States had been insulated from the global conflict, which had started in September 1939. Although it was not yet recognized as World War II, the U.S. had been supporting the Allies as the “Arsenal of Democracy.”
To confront the Axis powers, American forces needed to make landings on hostile shores worldwide, beginning with landing crafts like the LCVP, or Higgins boat, and eventually Amtracs which delivered soldiers and Marines onto heavily defended beaches, where thousands faced relentless fire and countless heroes made the ultimate sacrifice.
All these heroes did have one thing in common, they all had to cross their landing beach from the ocean. Now you can own the only historical collectible in the world with the actual sand from these WW2 landing beaches in the European Theater of Operation — Utah and Omaha, France; North Africa, Morocco; Sicily, Anzio and Salerno, Italy displayed on a highly detailed, laser engraved American made Red Alder Wood Plaque.
And if the Pacific Theater of Operation with the United States Marine Corps landings interests you, we have the only collectible in the world with the actual sand from Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa landing beaches available for sale.
About the Sand Historian
The creator of the only WWII Historical Collectible Plaques in the World with the Actual Sand from the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation.
After nearly two decades in the criminal justice field, Joel Johnson transitioned to, and still is a financial advisor in Aiken County, South Carolina for over thirty years. Outside of his professional life, he immerses himself in World War II history and collects Official State Highway Maps, particularly those of South Carolina. His fascination with WW2 began at the young age of five with his first Marx Army set, evolving into a vast collection of WWII memorabilia, weapons, research materials, and maps. He has now been producing his Word War Two sand plaques for over ten years.
During the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, Joel’s primary goal was to film and document the actual conditions at Omaha Beach as they would have been on June 6, 1944 at 06:30 Hours, but he also collected a small amount of sand from all five invasion beaches in five plastic baggies.
WHAT D-DAY ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE AT 0630 HRS AT THE COLLEVILLE DRAW ON JUNE 6, 1944.
While on his flight home, he envisioned a unique project that combined his passion for maps with the historical significance of D-Day: a plaque featuring the Final Overlord Plan, incorporating sand from the landing sites. This tribute honors the sacrifices made on that fateful day and serves as a tangible piece of history. The design process for the plaque was extensive, taking many months to perfect.
Following the interest generated by the Final Overlord Plan Map, Joel expanded his vision to create a map that includes sand from all the U.S. Army Invasion Beaches in the European Theater, honoring the combat divisions that fought there. In 2019, he created the Iwo Jima Final Landing Plan Map, and in 2023, he launched the plaque titled Sand From the World War II United States Marine Corps Landing Beaches, Pacific Theater of Operation.
Proudly born in North Dakota, Joel has traveled to all fifty states, four of five territories, nearly one hundred countries, and all seven continents, yet still finds time to be a Honorary South Carolinian, a title proudly held since 1984, with all his endeavors rooted in Warrenville, South Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Ute.
