Winston Churchill once quipped, “At Blenheim I took two very important decisions: to be born and to marry. I am happily content with the decisions I took on both those occasions.”
Blenheim Palace was built as a gift from the nation for John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, who led British forces during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Duke and his wife Sarah were great favorites of Queen Anne, and the completed palace became one of the grandest homes in England. Winston Churchill was born there on November 30, 1874, when his paternal grandfather was 7th Duke of Marlborough. The Blenheim Estate remains privately owned and has graciously provided content for the exhibition.
Join us for an exclusive webcast at 12 p.m. CDT on Sept. 12, the wedding anniversary of Winston and Clementine Churchill. Keaney and Riley will discuss the rich historical ties between Britain’s most iconic leader and Blenheim Palace, offering insights into the related forthcoming exhibit at ANCM and the significance of Blenheim in Churchill’s life. This online event is a must-attend for history enthusiasts and those passionate about Churchill’s enduring legacy, which began with his birth in 1874 at Blenheim.
Registrations Open!
Following the webcast, the highly anticipated Churchill and Blenheim Palace Exhibit will officially open on Sept. 18 at America’s National Churchill Museum. The exhibit will feature a broad range of extraordinary artifacts, providing a rare glimpse into the life and times of Churchill and his ancestral home
A centerpiece of the ANCM exhibit is a scale model of Blenheim Palace as large as a queen-size bed. The model was created for and exhibited in the Churchill Pavilion at the 1964–65 World’s Fair in New York City. It was commissioned by the Hallmark Greeting Card Company, whose founder, Joyce Hall, was an enthusiastic Churchillian. The model was built in Independence, Missouri, the home of President Harry S. Truman, who brought Churchill to Westminster College in 1946 to deliver what became known as the “Iron Curtain” speech.
The webcast and interactive exhibition are organized in conjunction with Churchill 2024, a global commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Churchill’s birth on Nov. 30, 2024. All events are made possible by the Anson Cutts Fund for America’s National Churchill Museum
“Leave the past to history especially as I propose to write that history myself.”
