|
VINT HILL, VA: December 11, 2009— Francis Gary Powers, Jr., the
Founder of The Cold War Museum (www.coldwar.org), announced today
that the museum had found a physical home. The Cold War Museum will
lease a modest size two story building and secure storage facility
at Vint Hill, located in Fauquier County, Virginia, less than 30
miles from Washington Dulles International Airport. The lease was
signed on December 1, 2009 with the Vint Hill Economic Development
Authority (www.vinthill.com), the owner of the 695-acre former US
Army communications base.
Powers is the son of Francis Gary Powers, a CIA pilot whose U-2 spy
plane was shot down over the Soviet Union in May 1960. The senior
Powers was held in Soviet custody until 1962, when he was traded for
Rudolph Abel, a Soviet KGB agent who had been captured by the United
States.
According to Francis Gary Powers, Jr., “We are excited about our new
home and look forward to opening the museum to the public in 2010.
We have been seeking a location for the museum for several years in
which to display our unique collections of international Cold War
related artifacts we have collected.” The Cold War Museum will fill
a substantial void in the interpretation of post-WWII history. The
Museum's goal of educating current and future generations about this
critical period in international relations seeks to fulfill one of
the most important tasks of the study of history. The museum will
provide a tangible setting to explore this topic within historical
contexts.
According to Powers, “We are currently looking for volunteers and
other interested parties to assist with the work that needs to be
done. Most importantly, now that we have a physical location, we are
looking for individuals that would like to make a year-end tax
deductible donation that will help facilitate our ongoing efforts to
educate future generations and preserve Cold War history.”
Mr. Edwin “Ike” Broaddus, Chairman for Vint Hill EDA said, “We are
pleased to offer The Cold War Museum a home. It is highly
appropriate for the museum to locate at Vint Hill, the former Vint
Hill Farms Station used during the Cold War, by the National
Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the US Army to
safeguard the United States against a surprise nuclear attack.” Vint
Hill is part of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground national
heritage area and in close proximity to the Manassas National
Battlefield Park, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the
historic towns of Leesburg, Manassas and Warrenton, Virginia,
existing major tourist destinations.
In addition to offering the Museum nine months of free storage space
for its collection of unique and rare Cold War artifacts, the Vint
Hill EDA will contribute $50,000 for building renovations. The
Fauquier County Industrial Development Authority (FCIDA) agreed to
match the $50,000 provided by the Vint Hill EDA. “This $100,000
contribution will not only enable the Museum to house, care for, and
archive its collection, but more importantly will be used to
renovate a 2000 sq ft building for museum use,” Powers said. Upon
completion in 2010, the Cold War Museum will use this modest sized
space to exhibit key items from its collection, open a reference
research library, operate a gift store, and run day to day museum
operations. Ultimately, the Museum plans to construct a larger
facility to house its artifacts, reference library, education center
and operations.
#############
Further information: Francis Gary Powers, Jr., (703) 273-2381;
e-mail, gpowersjr@coldwar.org
|
