Nov
20
2024
In early September, we proudly announced our collaboration with the USS Missouri Memorial Association to create an immersive onboard exhibit, featured on the ship’s Second Deck, highlighting the ship’s pivotal role in World War II. The exhibit, Pathway to Peace: USS Missouri’s World War II Experience, will debut on the 80th anniversary of the war’s end (September 2, 2025), and for the last couple of months, we have been full steam ahead on the project.
A lot has happened since the exhibit’s announcement, requiring an all hands on deck approach. We’ve been working on constructing exhibit cases, producing the interior exhibit space (walls, lighting), preparing a video wall, software development, and capturing and editing interviews with the heroes themselves, USS Missouri WWII Crewmembers and eyewitnesses of the Surrender Ceremony on board the ship. In this article, we would like to give you a unique glimpse behind the scenes of our collaboration with the Battleship Missouri Memorial.
As part of the exhibit aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial, we are producing custom artifact cabinets to showcase objects that capture the Mighty Mo’s storied journey during World War II. These cabinets are carefully designed to fit seamlessly between the ship's historic bulkheads on the Second Deck, creating a harmonious blend of modern exhibit design and naval history. The artifacts within the cabinets provide tangible evidence supporting the exhibit's narrative, offering visitors a window into the lives of the Sailors who served aboard this legendary battleship. From personal items, and tools of the trade, to memorabilia tied to key moments in the ship's wartime service, these artifacts illuminate the daily experiences and extraordinary events that defined life aboard the USS Missouri.
In addition to the bulkhead cabinets, two interior-lit vitrines will be incorporated into newly constructed exhibit walls, serving as premiere display spaces for some of the exhibit's most compelling objects. These vitrines will spotlight rare and significant artifacts, drawing visitors into the heart of the Missouri's WWII story. The design, engineering, construction, and installation of these display cases are masterfully executed by Ideum’s talented team, combining craftsmanship and technical expertise to ensure both the preservation of these historical items and an engaging experience for the visitor.
The exhibit wall will also include an integrated Inline frameless multitouch display. The Inline display will feature interactive interviews with three Sailors who served during World War II, with the aim of preserving these firsthand accounts.
Alongside the interview with Mr. Ed Buffman that we recorded earlier this year, we had the incredible opportunity to record interviews with two more members of the eight known surviving witnesses of the Japanese Surrender Ceremony aboard the USS Missouri for the interactive interview station. Our latest journey first took us to Lake Providence, Louisiana, where we met Mr. Lee Broussard, a former member of Admiral William Halsey’s flagstaff. Broussard, temporarily stationed aboard the Missouri during the war's final days, recounted his experience standing at the heart of history as the formal end of World War II unfolded. His vivid recollections of serving under Halsey, the atmosphere aboard the ship, and the profound impact of witnessing the ceremony were invaluable additions to this project.
From Louisiana, we traveled to South Kingstown, Rhode Island, to interview Mr. John DeLeo, who served as a Yeoman aboard the USS Missouri throughout its World War II service. DeLeo shared his unique perspective as a Sailor tasked with clerical and administrative duties that supported the ship’s operations during pivotal moments in the Pacific Theater. His recollections of daily life on the Missouri, the anticipation leading up to the Surrender, and the emotions of the moment provided a rich narrative complementing Broussard’s story. Together, these interviews bring to life the experiences of those who served on the "Mighty Mo" during a defining chapter of history and ensure their voices endure for future generations.
The Ideum fabrication team is finalizing the exhibit cabinets, interior walls, vitrines, and Inline integration. The exhibit build will leave our fabrication studio in mid-November for shipment to Hawaii, where the Ideum team will execute the first phase of installation in early December.
We are excited about the project’s forward movement and can’t wait to see our progress materialize on board the ship. We will report back on our progress after our visit to Hawaii in December. Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date!
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