In 2005, the world's only major museum, devoted entirely to the life of politician and statesman Sir Winston Churchill, was added to the underground complex known as the Churchill War Rooms, located in Whitehall, central London.
The installation tells Churchill's life story, investigating a long and varied political career through personal possessions, images, documents, sound clips and video footage and a Lifeline that makes use of the latest technology to display a variety of media.
Churchill Museum – About the Exhibition
The focal point of the display is the interactive Lifeline running the entire length of the museum. The interactive chart features more than 1,150 images, 1,100 documents, 200 animations and at least ten films, bringing to life one of history's most colourful characters and the world in which he lived.
The exhibition is divided into five self-explanatory sections:
- Young Churchill 1874-1900 outlines Winston's early years.
- Maverick Politician 1900-1929 looks at the beginning of his political career.
- Wilderness Years 1929-1939 examines the ten-year period when Churchill held no political office.
- War Leader 1940-1945 explores his years as wartime Prime Minister.
- Cold War Statesman 1945-1965 investigates Churchill's contribution to Cold War politics.
Although visitors enter the museum at the high point of Churchill's career – his appointment as Prime Minister in May 1940 – they can explore the various components of the exhibition in any order.
Highlights of the Churchill Museum
The installation features an Enigma Encoding Machine, used by the Germans to transmit top-secret messages during the battle for France. Code-breakers at the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, were given the task of deciphering the German codes.
Also on show are personal items such as Churchill's pocket watch, the stub of a Havana cigar and various items of uniform. Churchill was the only Prime Minister to wear military uniform whilst in office, and the display includes a tropical service jacket and a peaked cap with the badge of the Queen's Own 4th Hussars. Churchill was in this regiment as a young officer in 1895, becoming Honorary Colonel of the 4th Hussars in 1942. He was also Honorary Colonel of the 63rd (Oxfordshire Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Death of a Statesman
Churchill was a Member of Parliament until six months before his death on 24th January 1965. Queen Elizabeth II confirmed his iconic status by giving him a State Funeral. The exhibition includes video footage of the event and the flag that draped his coffin.
The Churchill War Rooms are located at Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ. Further information can be obtained from the Imperial War Museum or by telephoning +44 (0) 20 7930 6961.
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Interested readers might also like to look at Churchill War Rooms – Life in Secret Underground Bunker in WWII and Churchill War Rooms - Undercover Life in Churchill's Bunker.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
