Cold War Museum

Facility · Virginia ·

Managed by the Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program

411 ft
Elevation
In 1996, Francis Gary Powers, Jr. and John C. Welch founded the Cold War Museum to preserve Cold War history and honor Cold War Veterans. The museum is dedicated to education, preservation, and research on the global, ideological and political confrontations between East and West, from the end of World War II to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The museum?s aim is to maintain a historically accurate record of the people, places and events of the Cold War, and educate future generations about the fears, division and dangers it fostered. The museum co-sponsored a conference, "Interpreting the Physical Legacy of the Cold War" with the Cold War International History Project at the Smithsonian's Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars on October 8 and 9, 2003. In addition, a mobile exhibit of historical artifacts associated with the U-2 Incident of May 1960 is currently traveling around the world.

Getting there

38.85170, -77.31890 · 38°51'6.1"N 77°19'8.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 84°F in Jul, down to 42°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F424553657280848276655646
Low °F232432415261676557453528
Precip in3.32.63.83.44.34.14.33.54.23.53.13.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

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Member photos

Common questions about Cold War Museum

Can you reserve a site at Cold War Museum?
No. Cold War Museum is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Cold War Museum

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Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.