Hawley, Schmitt reintroduce bill to make Missouri Churchill Museum a National Historic Landmark

WASHINGTON — Today, Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) reintroduced legislation to designate America’s National Churchill Museum as a National Historic Landmark. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously last year. Missouri Rep. Bob Onder (Mo.-3) will introduce companion legislation in the House.

“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,” said 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.”

“The Missouri Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri commemorates Winston Churchill’s famous ‘Iron Curtain’ speech at Westminster College and memorializes his life,” said Senator Schmitt. “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.”

The museum is located on the Westminster College campus in Fulton, Missouri. On March 5, 1946 it was the site of Churchill’s famous words, “From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.” In the 1960s to honor the 20th anniversary of Churchill’s visit, Westminster College imported the 17th-century church from London to Fulton. The church of St. Mary Aldermanbury was moved stone-by-stone to Westminster’s campus. Reconstruction was completed in 1969 and is today’s location of the museum.

The America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act would:

• Direct the Secretary of Interior to establish America’s National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri as a National Historic Landmark. A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance.
• Direct National Park Service to conduct a Special Resource Study to consider future potential designations for the site.

Senator Hawley originally introduced this legislation last June. Read the full bill text here.