The National Cold War Center in Blytheville has acquired 36 original segments of the Berlin Wall.

A press release states that the arrival marks a major milestone in the development of the center and its mission to preserve and interpret one of the most consequential periods in modern history. The center, located at the former Eaker Air Force Base, was designated in 2023 by Congress as the nation’s official museum dedicated to the Cold War.

Together, the segments will form the largest publicly viewable collection of Berlin Wall segments outside Berlin. The segments arrived in Arkansas from Germany on May 13.

“This is a defining moment for the National Cold War Center,” said Christian Ostermann, executive director. “These are not replicas — these are original pieces of history that once divided the world. Preserving and interpreting the Berlin Wall at this scale positions the center as an important institution for understanding the Cold War and its lasting impact on the world today.”

The Berlin Wall stood for nearly three decades as a physical symbol of global political and ideological division during the Cold War. By preserving and presenting these original artifacts, the National Cold War Center will offer visitors a rare opportunity to experience the physical presence of the Wall while exploring the global events, tensions and decisions that shaped the modern world, according to the release.

Eaker Air Force Base was a Strategic Air Command Ready Alert installation during the Cold War era, and the National Cold War Center is being developed to educate and engage the public through immersive experiences, research and access to original historic assets.

The full collection will be publicly unveiled at the National Cold War Center Gala in November with information on exhibition plans, educational initiatives and more to be revealed in the coming months, the release stated.

Feature image: Berlin Wall segments after their arrival in Blytheville. (Photo courtesy of NCWC)
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