The Long Blue Line (WINTER 2020)

programming and immersive visitor experiences.
As a hub of experiential learning, the Museum
will inspire curiosity, stimulate young minds, and
motivate the next generation of young people to
consider careers in the Coast Guard and related
fields such as aviation, cyber security, engineering
and maritime industries.
THE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION WILL DELIVER a
world-class museum through the When the Most
is Expected Capital Campaign, a public/private
partnership estimated to total $135M. To date, over
$50M is committed:
When the most is expected, the U.S. Coast Guard has
delivered the most for us. They are always ready—
Semper Paratus. Now is the time for us to do the
most for them with a National Coast Guard Museum.
CONSTRUCTION PHASES
Phase I
Site Preparation
Environmental Remediation
Phase II
Pedestrian Bridge
Phase III
Museum Structure
Exhibit Fabrication & Outfitting
EXHIBIT DESIGN PROCESS
The Coast Guard hired two expert firms, Search,
Inc. and AldrichPears Associates, to assist them
in curating artifacts and developing galleries of
exhibits. The design goal is to put the visitor in the
shoes of Coast Guard men and women, offering
opportunities to solve problems, learn real skills
and interact with members of the service. Stories
will range from the heritage of the Coast Guard’s
predecessor services, to the role the service has
played in every major conflict since its founding,
and individual stories of heroic shipmates that will
captivate visitors and immerse them in the core
values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.
• $85M from private sources. Over $20M has
been secured in pledges and outright gifts.
• $30M committed from the Federal Government
to construct and design museum exhibits and
programming; $10M has been appropriated to
date.
• $20M from the State of Connecticut to coordinate
concurrent construction of a pedestrian bridge to
enable safe entry and public access to the Museum,
neighboring waterfront, and transportation facilities.
In 2018, the state bonded the full amount enabling
the Museum Association to draw down funds.
CONSTRUCTION AND EXHIBIT DESIGN TIMELINE:
The Museum is sited in an inter-modal transportation
hub, which is ideal to attract visitors. The proximity
to Amtrak rail service and the ferry terminal drives
the need for construction to occur in three phases.
Construction Phase 1 consists of site preparation,
including bulkhead and fill, which will create a regular
coastline platform on which to construct the fivestory
structure. The pedestrian bridge constitutes
Construction Phase 2. The final phase of work
involves erecting the Museum and fitting it out with
the exhibits and furnishings. In all, construction is
expected to take just under four years to complete.
In October 2019, the Coast Guard reached an
important milestone when it approved the 50%
Design Development documents, which represents
the midpoint of the design process.
24 WINTER 2020
THE LONG BLUE LINE