Welcome to the 50th anniversary party for the National Churchill Museum, created in 1969 to commemorate the 1946 visit of Sir Winston Churchill, invited by President Harry S. Truman.
Most events will be at or near the National Churchill Museum, at the corner of Westminster Avenue and West Seventh Street in Fulton. The museum and most of the events this weekend are free.
Friday
11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. -Museum tours
Meet at the Front Desk of America's National Churchill Museum
1 p.m. - 50th anniversary Commemorative Tour
The 1 p.m. tour will be led by author, artist and videographer Steve Stinson, one of the original tour guides for the Museum during the 1960s.
3 p.m. - Lecture: Preserving the Past: Christopher Wren's Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, at the church
Sir Christopher Wren's 52 London parish churches constitute one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Baroque era. Preservation Historian Esley Hamilton will discuss how war and commerce have taken a toll on this heritage. This talk will explore the nature of Wren's church designs and approaches to preserve them.
4:30 p.m. - Opening Concert: A Recital on the Noel Mander Organ, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury
Churchill Fellow and native St. Louisan Frederick Hohman transforms the pipe organ from a "Sunday morning" instrument into a virtual symphony orchestra. Hohman will play the Church's Mander organ, built and installed by the well-known British organ builder Noel Mander, whose most famous organ is at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. His Aldermanbury organ is considered by many the finest baroque organ in America.
6 p.m. - Reception with Churchill Family Members and a Preview of New Exhibits, at the Plaza Outside America's National Churchill Museum
Painting as a Pastime: From Winston to the White House; An Imaginative Concept: Christopher Wren's St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury Journey to Fulton; The Special Relationship Project
Together with members of the Churchill family, guests will have a preview of three exciting exhibits. Inspired by Churchill, Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and George W. Bush became enthusiastic amateur painters. For the first time, their paintings will be publicly displayed along with works by Churchill. Another exhibit celebrates the relocation of Christopher Wren's 17th century Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury from London to Fulton in the 1960s. A third features more than 4,000 paintings by K-12 students from Missouri who explore the idea of "special relationship," a term coined by Winston Churchill in his Fulton speech.
7 p.m. - Dinner and Program with Members of the Churchill Family, The Historic Gymnasium
A dinner and spirited program with Clementine and Winston Churchill's granddaughters the Honourable Edwina Sandys, M.B.E., and the Honourable Emma Soames; great-grandsons Jack Churchill and Duncan Sandys; former Monsanto CEO and legendary Churchillian Richard Mahoney; British historian and Churchill biographer Andrew Roberts; author and trail blazer Tina Santi Flaherty; Clark Durant, the highly regarded Detroit education innovator and political leader; and, the irrepressible author and fan favorite Lord Alan Watson.
Saturday
10 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. - Walking in Churchill and Truman's Footsteps Tour.
Meet Outside the Front Entrance of America's National Churchill Museum
Walk in the footsteps of Winston Churchill and President Harry Truman when they visited the campus of Westminster on March 5, 1946. Tour the Historic Gymnasium, where the "Iron Curtain" Speech was given, and the College President's house where Churchill enjoyed a nap, a meal, and drink. Guests include St. Louisan Baxter Watson, who, as a student in 1946, led Churchill and Truman into the Historic Gymnasium.
9 a.m. Meet the Authors and Book Signing, Inside America's National Churchill Museum
A chance to meet noted authors Andrew Roberts, whose Churchill biography "Walking with Destiny" is a New York Times bestseller; Lord Alan Watson, whose "Two Speeches to Save the World" chronicles the impact of Churchill's Fulton and Zurich speeches; Jim Wilson, author of the historical fiction "Churchill and Roosevelt: The Big Sleepover at the White House"; Tina Santi Flaherty, whose "What's Jackie Taught Us," highlights the heroic battles of Jackie Kennedy and Churchill; and, Edwina Sandys, whose career and life is captured in art. Her book "Winston Churchill: Painting as a Pastime" remains the Museum's best-selling book.
10 a.m. - Continuing the Special Relationship: Sculptural Life Casting of Special Guests,
Inside America's National Churchill Museum
Sculptor and Churchill Fellow Don Wiegand will make life casts of two surprise guests - one American, the other British - to symbolize the ongoing "special relationship" between the United States and Great Britain.
11 a.m. Meet the Artist and Experience Breakthrough, In front of the Breakthrough sculpture (Berlin Wall)
Internationally acclaimed artist and Churchill granddaughter Edwina Sandys will discuss her sculpture, Breakthrough, comprised of eight sections of the Berlin Wall, with a dramatic introduction and special guests.
12:30 p.m. - Enid and R. Crosby Kemper Lecture and Luncheon, The Historic Gymnasium
Churchill Fellow Andrew Roberts will inform and entertain with "Churchill and Humor," from his published and widely acclaimed Churchill biography "Walking with Destiny." Fellow Roberts will emphasize Churchill's sense of humor, which he used to good effect in every facet of his life.
2:30 p.m. - 50th anniversary parade
Starts across from America's National Churchill Museum
Enjoy a fun time with members of the Churchill and Truman families and other VIPs at the 50th anniversary parade, which will include U.S. military bands, high school bands, the St. Andrews Society Pipes and Drum Corps, the Air Attaché British Embassy, and other VIPs. There will be historic military vehicles, and more as we retrace the route Winston Churchill and President Truman took when they arrived March 5, 1946, in Fulton. There also is a special salute to the Eagle Squadrons of WWII and one of their own, 1st Lt. John Lutz, of Fulton. Parade-goers will enjoy a flyover of a WWII B-25, which also will be available at Fulton Airport for 30-minute rides (cost $350). Proceeds benefit the Commemorative Air Force and National Churchill Museum.
Parade route: Starts at the corner of Westminster Avenue and West Seventh Street, south on Westminster Avenue, east on Fifth Street, north on Court Street, west on Seventh Street, and ends after passing the museum. A reviewing stand will be at Westminster Avenue and West Seventh Street, in front of the Churchill Institute. There will be four food vendors nearby.
6 p.m. - Churchill Gala with David Rubenstein (business attire), at The Historic Gymnasium
Join members of the Churchill Family and Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group David Rubenstein for a gala dinner in Westminster College's Historic Gymnasium, the site of Winston Churchill's historic "Sinews of Peace" (or the "Iron Curtain" speech).
Sunday
10 a.m. 11:15 a.m. - Special 50th anniversary service, The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury
Join us for a special commemorative service in honor of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury's 50th anniversary with Rev. Jonathan Brewster, Residentiary Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, the Rev. Kelly Carlson, of Ladue, Lord Alan Watson of Richmond, and others. Nine new Churchill Fellows also will be installed. Coffee, tea and pastries will be served after the ceremonies.