British Embassy, USA
One of the best, if not the best, statues of Winston Churchill is located in front of the British Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. Sculpted by William McVey and unveiled in 1966, Churchill proudly stands showing his “V” for victory with one foot on American soil and the other on British soil.
Blenheim Palace
The most impressive of “Churchill sites” in the UK and one not to be missed is Blenheim Palace, home of the Dukes of Marlborough since the very first duke in the early 1700s and birth place of Winston Churchill. The Palace houses a special Churchill exhibit. The tapestries (which Churchill copied in his paintings) are magnificent and the grounds majestic. Not much has changed over the years in the Palace except for the price of entry, which continues to increase. The Palace is located in the town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, about one hour northwest of London. Winston, Clementine, Randolph and other members of the Churchill family are buried in nearby Bladon Parish Church yard.
Churchill and FDR
This bronze, seated Churchill and Roosevelt statue called Allies was sculpted by Lawrence Holofcener and unveiled in 1995 by Princess Margaret. Located in downtown London in the pedestrian area in Old Bond Street, visitors to the statue frequently have their photograph taken seated between the two famous personages. The Catto Gallery in Hampstead commissioned Holofcener to sculpt a quarter life-size bronze piece of his Allies (12in. high, 19in. wide, 11in. deep) for sale in a limited edition of 50. The initial offering price in 1995 was £5,700. The offering price in the year 2002 has more than tripled, and 25 pieces remain before the edition is sold out. Certainly not every Churchilliana collection will have this little "stocking stuffer."
Churchill Room
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park or “Station X” as known in the UK during WW II is located in the town of Bletchley near Milton Keynes, about one hour north of London. Here, the British deciphered the German Enigma code. Churchill referred to the code breakers as "the geese that lay the golden eggs - and never cackle.” Churchill’s presence is evident in the main exhibition area or Hut 12; however, the “big time” Churchill exhibit is the personal Churchilliana collection of Jack Darrah (pictured here), which fills a huge room in Block A. The finest Churchilliana collection on exhibit in the world! A visit to Bletchley Park is not to be missed.
Imperial War Museum
The Imperial War Museum is located in London on the south side of the River Thames. The British do know how to construct a museum, and this is the best combined WW I and WW II museum in the world. Churchill is in evidence everywhere, from the WW II tank named for him located in the main exhibit hall to the Gift shop. This military history museum is not to be missed, particularly since admission is now free!
Churchill Memorial Museum
The Churchill Memorial Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, is the only Churchill exhibit in the United States. The museum commemorates Churchill's visit to the college and the delivery of his now famous “Iron Curtain” speech on March 5, 1946. The museum is located in the campus’ Church of St. Mary the Virgin (pictured here; entrance to the museum is at the lower right of the Church). In the front of the church (far left in the picture) is a statue of Churchill sculpted by Franta Belzky. The church was designed by Christopher Wren and brought brick by brick from England to its present site. Located about an hour’s drive west of St. Louis, the Churchill Memorial Museum is a great visit and well worth the trip.
Personalities and Events
London, U.K.
The foremost shop for purchasing "things Churchill" in all of the U.K. is "Personalities and Events," owned and operated by Ron Smith (pictured here). The shop is located at 5 Georgian Village, Camden Passage and is but a short walk from the Angel underground station through a bevy of antique markets that populate Camden Passage. Although small in square feet and open for business only on Wednesday and Saturday, Ron's shop is a virtual treasure trove of commemoratives featuring personalities and events in the history of the British Empire.
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