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2017 John Wesley Powell Prize

About the Award

2017 John Wesley Powell Prize photoThe Society for History in the Federal Government recognized this exhibit with its 2017 John Wesley Powell Prize for outstanding achievement in the field of historic exhibits and interpretive products.

The John Wesley Powell Prize is awarded annually to commemorate John Wesley Powell (1834-1902), an explorer and federal administrator whose work demonstrated early recognition of the importance of historic preservation and historical display. This award conveys distinction to the individual or principal collaborators for a single project in the area of either historic preservation or interpretive display.

Background

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Department of Defense and the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration created a permanent exhibit on the 3rd Floor, A-Ring, corridors 3-2 in the Pentagon as a way to thank and honor the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans and their families. This award-winning exhibit tells the story of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War through a timeline of events, artifacts, historic photographs, and video footage.

In an effort to offer a similar user-directed experience to those people who are unable to visit this exhibit in person, we have provided a virtual environment to interact and view the components that comprise it.

Description

In collaboration with the OSD Historical Office, OSD Graphics and the Services’ History Offices, the Commemoration developed and established a museum-quality exhibit in the Pentagon. 

The Vietnam War Exhibit showcases the following:

  • Timeline of significant events (September 1945-April 1975).

  • Thematic representation of service member duties and military operations.

  • Test panel from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, along with samples of the 400 thousand items left at “The Wall” throughout the past 3 decades by 4 million annual visitors.  

  • Crew cabs of two Huey Helicopters representing a MEDEVAC and “Slick.”

  • Interactive map of the Republic of Vietnam.

  • Searchable video index of Medal of Honor recipients of the Vietnam War.

  • Large four-panel video screen depicting the “daily life” of service members.

  • “TV ‘68” monitor depicting videos, news broadcasts, commercials that were seen by the home front in 1968.

  • This exhibit can be toured by the public (when available) as part of the larger Pentagon Tours program. For more information visit https://pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/.

"Join the Nation ... thank a Vietnam veteran!"