U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Kenneth G. Takada Dr. David Winkler describes the various artifacts on display at the Cold War Gallery annex of the Navy Museum at the Washington Navy Yard.

To coincide with Veterans Day, the Washington Navy Yard-based Naval Historical Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the National Museum of Naval History and other projects of the Naval History and Heritage Command, has announced it has received a substantial pledge from General Dynamics Corporation. The contribution will be used to support the Cold War Annex of the National Navy Museum.

According to Adm. Bruce DeMars, Chairm of the Naval Historical Foundation, “the pledge represents a major commitment to the Navy's flagship museum, honoring those who served in the sea services during critical period in world history.“

The future 20,000 sq. foot Cold War Gallery will also provide an outstanding venue for the museum to conduct educational outreach to schools around the nation.

The Cold War Gallery, housed at the Washington Navy Yard, will showcase an important period in maritime history and is coupled to General Dynamics' history as one of the nation's leading defense firms. During the early years of the Cold War from 1954 to the fall of the Soviet Union, the Corporation's “Electric Boat“ division produced some of the Navy's famed submarines, including the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, and later attack submarines of the Los Angeles class and ballistic missile submarines of the Ohio class. This important period in U.S. maritime history will be well documented in two major displays planned for the North Hall of the Gallery: “The Navy in the Nuclear Age“ and “Tracking Ivan.“

In addition, the Naval History and Heritage Command also manages and operates the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum in Groton, CT. The Nautilus was converted to a floating museum, with the Submarine Force Museum, and opened to the public in 1986.

With the generous contributions of this corporation and others, the Naval Historical Foundation is continuing with exhibit design and fabrication for Cold War Gallery, enabling a potential opening of some exhibits in time for Veterans Day in 2010.