Energy company donates $1 million to National Cold War Center in Blytheville

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. (KAIT) — An energy company building a solar project in Mississippi County is putting $1 million toward the National Cold War Center in Blytheville, and the people behind it say this could change the region for generations.

The donation is a step forward in bringing the Cold War center to life at the old Strategic Air Command Ready Alert Facility at Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville.

The site could become one of the most significant museums in the country.

The National Cold War Center already carries a federal designation as the official Cold War museum for the United States.

“In New Orleans is a federally designated museum for World War II, and in Kansas is a federally designated museum for World War I,” said Mary Gay Shipley, chairman of the board for the National Cold War Center.

Pattern Energy, an energy infrastructure company building a large solar project in Mississippi County, announced the $1 million donation to the Cold War Center on Wednesday, April 15.

“When we’re developing and building a project, we want to make sure that we become a part of the community where we are. This is an effort that seemed very important to the county and the community here. So, it was a great opportunity for us to practice what we preach,” said Cary Kottler, chief development officer for Pattern Energy.

The money will pay for restoration of the historic Ready Alert Facility and help develop the new museum on-site.

For Shipley, this isn’t just a check — it’s a vote of confidence.

“It’s really Pattern Energy saying we believe in this project. Because you know, there are many people that don’t think this will ever happen. That’s not true with Pattern Energy. They believe it’s going to happen to the tune that they’re putting a million dollars on the table for it,” Shipley said.

Leaders on both sides say the long-term vision goes beyond Blytheville.

Shipley sees the Cold War Center as the anchor of a tourism triangle connecting northeast Arkansas to the Clinton Library in Little Rock and Crystal Bridges in northwest Arkansas.

Kottler says if the museum is drawing thousands of visitors a year and putting Mississippi County on the map, that’s the win.

“There’s a really unique opportunity here to educate people about the Cold War. There’s a lot of historical significance to this area as it relates to that. And so, if as a result of that we’re reaching thousands more people every year and getting more people into the community here to learn about it, I think that would be a success for everybody involved,” Kottler said.

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