Founded in 1996 by Francis Gary Powers Jr. and John C. Welch, The Cold War Museum was created to preserve the global history of the Cold War, honor the veterans and intelligence professionals who served during this era, and educate future generations about its geopolitical and technological legacy. Powers—son of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, whose 1960 shoot-down became a defining moment in Cold War history—has spent decades building the institution, expanding its collections, and advocating for a permanent facility worthy of its mission.
Today, the Museum holds one of the nation’s most distinctive Cold War collections, with notable strengths in intelligence (SIGINT/IMINT), Berlin history, civil defense, nuclear strategy, aeronautics, and major Cold War incidents including the U-2, USS Liberty, and USS Pueblo events. While artifacts are exhibited through partner institutions such as the International Spy Museum, Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, DIA Museum, and the Atom Muzeum in the Czech Republic, the Museum continues its search for a dedicated, purpose-built home.
In support of this long-term vision, architect John Jessen has collaborated closely with Gary Powers Jr. to develop conceptual designs and planning strategies for a permanent Cold War Museum facility. Jessen’s work includes:
- Architectural concept studies that envision a museum capable of telling the full narrative arc of the Cold War—from geopolitical tension and intelligence innovation to cultural competition and global impact.
- Graphic storytelling and presentation materials to strengthen the Museum’s capital campaign and communicate its mission to potential donors and partners.
- Site layout studies for multiple potential locations, assessing how the Museum could be integrated into varied landscapes, historic sites, or campus environments.
Through this collaboration, Jessen provided strategic architectural leadership to help the Museum transform from an all-volunteer, distributed collection into a permanent cultural institution. His work supported Gary Powers Jr.’s commitment to establishing a museum that preserves Cold War history at the highest level—ensuring that the stories, artifacts, and individuals of this pivotal era are honored and accessible for generations to come.
Project location: Virginia
Project size: TBD
Work previously completed by John Jessen as Principal Architect & Architect-of-Record with VOA Associates (now Stantec).