NEW LONDON, CT(WFSB) – The Coast Guard’s motto, “Semper Paratus,” meaning “always ready,” rings true as New London prepares for the first-ever National Coast Guard Museum.
Captain Wes Pulver, President of the National Coast Guard Museum Association, shared, “We’ve spent the last two years making sure we were all set with the foundation set, the land, all of the permitting, now we have steel coming out of the ground.”
Located along the banks of the Thames River, this groundbreaking museum will be the first of its kind dedicated to the Coast Guard.
The project encompasses an 86,000-square-foot, eight-story building, currently underway.
Construction has begun with concrete footings driven fifty feet deep to anchor the structure—mirroring the foundations of a ship.
Admiral Kevin Lunday, Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, emphasized the importance of these initial components: “The first parts you build are crucial, as they support everything above the waterline. The same holds true for our Coast Guard National Museum.”
Situated directly behind the downtown train station, the museum will feature interactive exhibits and hands-on displays designed to enhance local educational curricula.
Its strategic location will serve as a draw for both visitors and the local community.
The museum is expected to become a major attraction, bringing tourists from across the nation to southeastern Connecticut.
Senator Chris Murphy highlighted the museum’s importance, stating, “In a time when quite honestly we have trouble filling our recruiting goals for our military services, it’s even more important to tell this story and make sure we are getting the best and brightest to fill the halls of the Coast Guard Academy.”
The federal government is poised to invest approximately $100 million into this landmark project, which has been a decade in the making.
The anticipated opening date is set for 2026.
Captain Wes Pulver remarked, “In the next 18 months, we will see this museum come to life.”
Crews will then require an additional year to set up exhibits and finalize preparations for the grand opening.
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