The National Coast Guard Museum Association is looking to raise $100,000 in 100 days as part of an initial fundraising campaign for the museum to be located in downtown New London.
The "First 100" effort begins on Saturday and seeks minimum donations of $1,000. People who wish to make a donation may do so by contacting the National Coast Guard Museum Association at 860-443-4200.
Anyone who makes a donation will have their name inscribed on a bronze plaque to be placed at the entrance to the museum, which the association announced in April will be located on the NewLondon waterfront.
"People are very excited about the National Coast Guard Museum coming to New London, and they're eager to help and get involved," said John Johnson, treasurer of the National Coast Guard Museum Association. "It's our hope to have a museum open by 2017, and we're working hard to raise the necessary funds so that we can start on the museum's programming and marketing as soon as the engineering, architectural and permitting work is complete."
The museum will be located on a city-owned parcel of land between City Pier and Cross Sound Ferry. Plans include a 54,300 square foot museum space, a pedestrian bridge to access the site, a new terminal for high speed ferries, and having the Coast Guard's tall ship, the barque Eagle, dock at City Pier when she is in port.
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