National Cold War Center receives $500,000 grant
by May 15, 2023 4:14 pm 871 views
The National Cold War Center (NCWC) project has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program, in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
The new NCWC museum will be located on the Arkansas Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway, at the former Blytheville-Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville. The grant will support the rehabilitation of several key historic structures that will be included in the NCWC visitor experience.
“We are humbled by the DOT’s investment in the preservation of the history and scenic beauty of our region,” said Mary Gay Shipley, chair of the NCWC Board of Directors. “This grant will make critical improvements possible, contributing to our goal to make NCWC a must-visit destination for Arkansas.”
The Ready Alert Facility that still stands at the former Blytheville Air Force Base, which during the Cold War, served the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command.
The Center will also tell the Cold War story by constructing a museum building and presenting static aircraft displays like the B-52 bomber.
Work is underway on the restoration and renovation of the Ready Alert exhibit, and the National Cold War Center is targeting a 2025 groundbreaking for the new structure. Cost estimates to build the center have ranged as high as $20 million.