The National Medal of Honor Museum is a museum that honors United States Armed ForcesMedal of Honor recipients, founded and funded by the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.[1] The museum is scheduled to open on March 25, 2025[2] in Arlington, Texas, with groundbreaking beginning in March 2022.[3] Previously, the group decided to build the museum in Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant[4] but decided on Arlington later.[5]
The location was announced on October 4, 2019, concluding a 5-year, nationwide competition that included Denver, New York City, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. It is projected to cost $150 million and open in 2024.[6]
History
Planning
Initially, the museum was planned for a location in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.[7] A design for the museum by Moshe Safdie faced much regulatory scrutiny and criticism by the Mount Pleasant Town Council planning committee.[8][9] In late 2018, the Foundation decided to seek alternate sites for the museum.[7]
In October of 2019, Arlington, Texas, was selected as the location for the National Medal of Honor Museum.[10] The museum is meant to recognize Medal of Honor recipients[11] and include the National Medal of Honor Museum Leadership Institute, an education center aimed at character development for young people.[12][3]
In January 2020, Rafael Viñoly was selected as chief architect for the museum.[13] The first renderings for the museum were revealed that October.[14]
The Foundation has also worked to place a corresponding National Medal of Honor Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.[15] A bill authorizing the Foundation to construct the monument passed unanimously in the House and Senate;[16] in late 2021, President Joe Biden signed it into law.[15]
Fundraising
The Foundation has a fundraising goal of nearly $200 million to build the museum in Arlington.[17] The project is funded by private donations.[18] No federal funds will be used to support the construction of the museum[19] or the monument.[20] In March 2021, American businessman and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a $20 million donation to help build the museum.[21]
Construction
The site for the museum is in Arlington's entertainment district, near the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium and Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field.[11] On February 1, 2022, the Foundation announced it would break ground on the museum on National Medal of Honor Day 2022 – March 25, 2022.[3]
Foundation
The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization charged with designing, funding, building and maintaining the museum.[22] Chris Cassidy, former chief astronaut for NASA and a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, is the museum's president and CEO.[23] Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys, is chairman of the board for the museum.[24]
