Hawley Bill to Make Missouri Churchill Museum a National Historic Landmark Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk

Hawley Bill to Make Missouri Churchill Museum a National Historic Landmark Passes Senate, Heads to President's Desk

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

WASHINGTON - Today, the United States Senate unanimously passed Senator Josh Hawley's (R-Mo.) legislation to designate America's National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri, as a National Historic Landmark. The bill previously passed the House of Representatives in March, and it now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) sponsors the House bill.

"This is a huge win for Missouri. Fulton, Missouri is the home of Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech that marked the beginning of the Cold War," said Senator Hawley. "I'm proud to have shepherded this legislation through the Senate to rightfully commemorate Missouri's friendship with one of the greatest leaders in world history. I look forward to the bill becoming law."

The museum is located on the Westminster College campus in Fulton, Missouri. On March 5, 1946, Winston Churchill joined President Harry S. Truman to speak at the Missouri college. It was at this site that Churchill famously described the state of foreign affairs in Europe by saying, "From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent." In the 1960s, to honor the 20th anniversary of Churchill's visit, Westminster College imported a 17th-century church from London to Fulton. The church of St. Mary Aldermanbury was moved stone-by-stone to Westminster's campus. Reconstruction was completed in 1969 and is today's location of the museum.

Senator Hawley first introduced this legislation in 2024, and it has passed the Senate multiple times previously. Passage today marks the first time the bill has gone to the President's desk.

The legislation will:

• Direct the Secretary of Interior to establish America's National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri as a National Historic Landmark. A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance.
• Direct National Park Service to conduct a Special Resource Study to consider future potential designations for the site.

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