Show-Me State Times

Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt from Missouri have reintroduced legislation to designate the America’s National Churchill Museum as a National Historic Landmark. The bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate last year, will be accompanied by companion legislation introduced in the House by Missouri Representative Bob Onder.

“Missouri is proud to have played a special role in the friendship between one of the world’s greatest leaders–Sir Winston Churchill–and the United States,” stated Senator Hawley. “Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech marked the beginning of the Cold War and it is only fitting that he be honored with a proper and permanent landmark in Fulton.”

Senator Schmitt added, “The Missouri Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri commemorates Winston Churchill’s famous ‘Iron Curtain’ speech at Westminster College and memorializes his life. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the museum myself and would recommend my fellow Missourians also visit. I’m proud to join Senator Hawley’s bill that would make this museum a National Historic Landmark.”

Located on Westminster College's campus in Fulton, Missouri, the museum marks where Churchill delivered his renowned "Iron Curtain" speech on March 5, 1946. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of this event, Westminster College imported St. Mary Aldermanbury church from London during the 1960s. The reconstruction was completed in 1969 and now houses today’s museum.

The proposed America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act aims to direct the Secretary of Interior to establish America’s National Churchill Museum as a National Historic Landmark. It also calls for a Special Resource Study by the National Park Service to explore future potential designations for this site.

Senator Hawley initially introduced this legislation last June.