By: Francis Gary Powers, Jr., Founder

As 2001 unfolds I find myself reflecting on the many accomplishments of the Cold War Museum and those who have made them possible. I am writing to provide you with a brief update on the Museum’s activities.

We are at a critical stage of our development. In January, the Cold War Museum became a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate Museum. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Cold War Museum can exhibit artifacts from the Smithsonian’s national collection and use the Smithsonian name in conjunction with fund-raising and promotional activities. In the future, the Cold War Museum may be able to relocate to a former Nike missile base in Lorton, Va. In the meantime, we are working with the Fort Meade Museum in Maryland to temporarily locate some of our exhibits at their facility.

Annually, the Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Slovakian Embassies co-host a reception for the Museum. As a result of their support, the Museum recently acquired several important artifacts, including an East German admiral’s uniform and a warning sign from Checkpoint Charlie. The Museum is currently planning a December gala reception to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the End of the Cold War.

The mobile exhibit on the U-2 Incident and our “Spies of Washington Tour” continue to generate interest in the building of a permanent Cold War Museum facility. On July 1, 2000, the mobile exhibit returned from a six-month display at the Allied Museum in Berlin, Germany. It is currently on display at the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Recently, the Cold War Museum was able to secure a SAM II missile for the collection, which is on loan to the Florida International Museum as part of their Cuban Missile Crisis display. The educational “Spies of Washington Tour” has enjoyed substantial growth and continues to sell-out regularly. Recently, we hosted a tour for 15 travel magazine journalists and many groups are interested in private tours.

In 2000, two students from Eisenhower High School in Houston, Texas, contacted the Cold War Museum asking for assistance in their research project for the National History Day competition. The Museum immediately provided them with useful information and an invitation to attend an official United States Air Force ceremony at Beale Air Force Base, California, held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the U-2 Incident. While visiting Beale on May 1, 2000, the students interviewed many individuals associated with the U-2 program. They were present in the review stands when a U-2 landed after I was flown on a commemorative U-2 flight. The students also attended a posthumous award ceremony, which honored my father with the Prisoner of War Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the CIA’s Director’s Medal. As a direct result of the Museum’s assistance, the students were finalists in National History Day, won a $5,000 scholarship, and the History Channel’s Award for the Best Senior Entry on an International Theme.

The Cold War Museum works with numerous production companies to produce television programs discussing Cold War history as seen on A&E, CSPAN, the Discovery channel, the History Channel, and the Learning Channel. Museum artifacts were recently used in the Kevin Costner film about the Cuban Missile Crisis, Thirteen Days.

Please consider making a donation to the Cold War Museum’s general fund. Your gift now will help us plan for the new year and the new physical location. Tax-deductible contributions and artifact donations to the Museum will ensure that future generations will remember Cold War events and personalities that forever altered our understanding of national security, international relations, and personal sacrifice for one’s country.

Please help spread the word about the museum. Together we can make this vision a reality. Your support is greatly appreciated. If you should have any questions or want additional information, please visit the The Cold War Museum web site, or contact: The Cold War Museum, P.O. Box 178, Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 273- 2381 or email G. Powers Jr.