National Medal of Honor Museum
Museum in Arlington, Texas, US
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Medal of Honor Museum is a museum that honors United States Armed Forces Medal of Honor recipients, founded and funded by the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.[1] Groundbreaking began in March 2022 in Arlington, Texas.[2] Previously, the group decided to build the museum in Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant[3] but decided on Arlington later.[4]
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| Established | March 25, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Arlington, Texas |
| Coordinates | 32°45′16″N 97°05′05″W |
| Type | Military history |
| Collections | Medal of Honor |
| President | Chris Cassidy |
| Website | mohmuseum |
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 was projected to cost $150 million and open in 2024.[5]
History
Planning
Initially, the museum was planned for a location in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.[9] A design for the museum by Moshe Safdie faced much regulatory scrutiny and criticism by the Mount Pleasant Town Council planning committee.[10][11] In late 2018, the Foundation decided to seek alternate sites for the museum.[9]
In October 2019, Arlington, Texas, was selected as the location for the National Medal of Honor Museum.[12] The museum is meant to recognize Medal of Honor recipients[13] and include the National Medal of Honor Museum Leadership Institute, an education center aimed at character development for young people.[14][2]
In January 2020, Rafael Viñoly was selected as chief architect for the museum.[15] The first renderings for the museum were revealed that October.[16]
The Foundation has also worked to place a corresponding National Medal of Honor Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.[17] A bill authorizing the Foundation to construct the monument passed unanimously in the House and Senate;[18] in late 2021, President Joe Biden signed it into law.[17]
Fundraising
The Foundation has a fundraising goal of nearly $200 million to build the museum in Arlington.[19] The project is funded by private donations.[20] No federal funds will be used to support the construction of the museum[21] or the monument.[22] In March 2021, American businessman and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a $20 million donation to help build the museum.[23]
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.[13] On February 1, 2022, the Foundation announced it would break ground on the museum on National Medal of Honor Day 2022 – March 25, 2022.[2] The General Contractor for the museum was Linbeck Group, LLC.
Controversy
Online petitions seek to have MSgt John Chapman featured in one of the 200 stand-alone exhibits and criticize the decision to exclude him, the recipient first medal of honor incident captured on camera, in favor of the story of a board member who was also there at Robert's Ridge but has a controversial past with allegations of war crimes.[24][25]
Foundation
The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization charged with designing, funding, building and maintaining the museum.[26] Chris Cassidy, former chief astronaut for NASA and a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, is the museum's president and CEO.[27] Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys, is chairman of the board for the museum.[28]
Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter (before his death) are "Honorary Directors" of the Foundation. In November 2021, Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton appeared in a public service announcement in support of building the museum.[26]
