Powers recently announced that the Cold War Museum found a home at Vint Hill, the former U.S. Army communications base in Fauquier County. The museum is expected to open this year. 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.
Are we losing the memory of the Cold War?
No, I do not think so. However, it is not something that is being taught and/or studied as much as it should be. Fortunately, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall helped a new generation learn about this historical period.
What are some of the best artifacts?
We will showcase some of our items from the Berlin Airlift, Berlin Wall erection, U-2 incident, USS Liberty and USS Pueblo incidents, Corona spy satellite program, U.S. Civil Defense, fall of the Berlin Wall. We will be able to house about 3,500 books in our research library for scholars and students.
What do you want people to know about your father?
First, I want people to realize that the museum is not just about my father. As a result of my research and as a result of declassified material on the U-2 incident being released in the late 1990s, it is now known that Dad was shot down by a Soviet SA-2 missile, did not release any sensitive information during his interrogations and refused to denounce the United States of America during his espionage trial.
Anything else?
I am looking for people who can help facilitate introductions to individuals and companies that would be interested in financially supporting the museum. We are looking into naming rights, sponsorships and advertising opportunities. (coldwar.org or e-mail [email protected].)
– Scott McCabe
