National Cold War Center receives $1 million from Pattern Energy

The National Cold War Center (NCWC) announced Wednesday (April 15) a $1 million donation from Pattern Energy in support of the center’s capital campaign and the development of America’s official Cold War Museum at the former Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville.

The investment will directly support renovation of the Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Facility and construction of a museum designed to preserve Cold War history and expand public access to its lessons and legacy.

“This project is about more than preserving history — it’s about helping people understand why the Cold War still matters today,” said Christian Ostermann, executive director of the National Cold War Center. “There is still a significant gap in public understanding of this period, and the National Cold War Center is designed to close that gap through education, access and national engagement.”

“At Pattern Energy, we invest in energy infrastructure that delivers clean, reliable power and lasting economic opportunity in the places where we work,” said Cary Kottler, chief development officer at Pattern Energy. “We also invest beyond the project boundary, supporting the initiatives that matter most to local communities. The National Cold War Center is both locally significant and nationally important, and we are proud to support something this community has worked hard to make a reality.”

Designated by Congress as America’s official Cold War Museum, the National Cold War Center will serve as a national hub for education, research and public engagement. Located at Eaker Air Force Base — once a critical Strategic Air Command installation — the site offers a direct connection to the Cold War’s global military and geopolitical history.

Through immersive exhibits, archival resources and public programming, the center will provide a deeper understanding of the Cold War’s impact on modern global relations, national security and American life.

It will cost up to $30 million to complete the project, and officials are hopeful construction could begin by 2027. The air base was a top five target of the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.