If plans come to fruition, the U.S. Coast Guard will soon have a new museum in downtown New London, Conn. The Coast Guard Museum, still in its early planning stages, is tentatively scheduled to open in 2017 (see more on how you can contribute below). Maybe the museum should have an exhibit that allows visitors to experience the duties of a CG rescue swimmer: you put on a wet suit and jump 30 feet into a big waves during a howling rainstorm. There might be a few technical/legal issues to work out (to say the least!), but it would be an unforgettable museum experience, don't you think?
From the press release: The National Coast Guard Museum Association is launching a local fundraising campaign called "First 100" to help generate initial funds for the programming, development and marketing of the new National Coast Guard Museum, which is intended to be built in downtown New London. The "First 100" campaign seeks to raise $100,000 in 100 days beginning June 1, 2013 through minimum donations of $1,000. As donations are received, these initial contributors will be forever immortalized as members of the National Coast Guard Museum's "First 100" Society, and be honored with a bronze plaque inscribed with their name and placed at the entrance to the new museum. To make a donation, the public may contact the National Coast Guard Museum Association at 860.443.4200.
"People are very excited about the National Coast Guard Museum coming to New London, and they're eager to help and get involved," said John Johnson, Treasurer of the National Coast Guard Museum Association. "It's our hope to have the museum open by 2017, and we're working hard to raise the necessary funds so that we can start on the museum's programming and marketing as soon as the engineering, architectural and permitting work is complete."
In April, the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Robert J. Papp announced the proposed location and designs for the much-anticipated National Coast Guard Museum intended to be built in the New London Waterfront District adjacent to the city's train station and ferry terminals. Plans include a four-story, 54,300-square-foot building with four floors of interactive exhibits, event space and lecture rooms, as well as a reception area with gift shop and café. In addition, plans anticipate docking the Coast Guard's tall ship, barque Eagle, at an adjacent pier serving as an additional attraction. A pedestrian overpass across the railroad tracks will connect the museum with the local ferry terminal and train station helping to usher visitors worldwide as they come to experience this first national museum dedicated to the U.S. Coast Guard's history.
