A new exhibit at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum will display some of the most delicate artifacts in their collection for the very first time. The Fragile Collections exhibit features items that must be stored in a carefully climate controlled area. A new exhibit space on the USS Yorktown Hangar Deck allows these artifacts to be safely displayed without exposure to heat or humidity.
“Creating a climate-controlled exhibit space aboard the USS Yorktown means our visitors will have the chance to experience pieces straight from the archive,” said Executive Director Dr. Rorie Cartier. “It's our job as a museum to connect people to history and this exhibit will create a deeper understanding of American experiences during times of conflict.”
The items featured in the exhibit are primarily from World War II and hand-selected by the museum curator. Artifacts include the ribbons from the champagne bottle used by Eleanor Roosevelt (right) to christen the USS Yorktown, the American flag that flew aboard the USS Laffey on D-Day, and fragments from kamikaze aircraft that struck U.S. ships in the Pacific Theater.
“I am thrilled our visitors will finally have the chance to see these incredible artifacts,” said Museum Curator Melissa Buchanan. “Every object in the collection tells a story. We can see the challenges, the triumphs, and the day-to-day life of sailors in World War II. Preserving their stories and sharing them with the public is the most important thing we do at Patriots Point.”
The Fragile Collections exhibit will open to the public on Friday, December 17th and is included in the price of museum admission. On opening day, the museum curator will be available from 11 am to 1 pm to answer questions in the exhibit. Friends of the Fleet annual pass holders will be offered exclusive early access to view the exhibit. To purchase an annual pass, visit www.patriotspoint.org/get-
