America’s National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton has been officially designated as a National Historic Landmark following the signing of the designation bill by President Donald Trump. The legislation also calls for a study to explore options for preserving the museum.
“This national designation signed by the President ensures that future generations will be inspired by the leadership lessons of Winston Churchill and the history that happened and continues to happen here at Westminster College,” said Timothy Riley, Director and Chief Curator of America’s National Churchill Museum.
Riley expressed hope that the designation would initiate the process of engaging the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a formal resource study. Such a study would open the door to additional expertise and potential federal funding for the museum.
America’s National Churchill Museum was established to educate new generations across the country through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs centered on Winston Churchill, who served as Prime Minister during the Second World War and throughout the early years of the Cold War.
The museum commemorates the renowned “Iron Curtain” speech delivered by the former Prime Minister in March 1946, a speech that Riley believes continues to hold significant relevance today.
“The lessons of the past that we learned from Churchill and so many others are relevant today, and I think this legislation is proof positive of the work we do,” Riley said.
Located on the campus of Westminster College at the corner of West Seventh Street and Westminster Avenue, the museum first opened its doors in 1969.
“The museum preserves not only this wonderful Christopher Wren church from the 17th century, but also the largest continuous section of the Berlin Wall in North America, which was dedicated by President Reagan,” Riley said. “History not only happened here when Churchill came, but it continues to happen, and I think that is perhaps one of greatest legacies of this place.”
Having been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972 , one of 3,005 such designations in Missouri alone , the museum’s elevation to National Historic Landmark status places it among just 36 such distinguished sites across the state.
“When Winston Churchill came to Westminster College, he challenged the world to confront its responsibilities for the future,” said Donald P. Lofe Jr., President and Chief Transformation Officer of Westminster College. “This extraordinary designation honors that historic moment, the enduring ties between Britain and the United States and the generations who have preserved this exceptional place.”
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is priced at $10 for youth and college students, $18 for adults, and $16 for seniors. Free entry is available for Museum and International Churchill Society members, North American Reciprocal Museums members, Westminster College students, employees and their families, and children under the age of eight.
