Heroes Hall veterans museum to be dedicated in Costa Mesa on Friday
Dignitaries and veterans are expected to be on hand in Costa Mesa on Veterans Day for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the new Heroes Hall veterans museum at the OC Fair & Event Center.
Friday’s event will put a bow on an effort that began more than three years ago, when members of the Orange County Fair Board voted to preserve a former Army barracks at the fairgrounds.
Originally, officials had planned to demolish the two-story World War II-era structure, formerly known as the Memorial Gardens Building, to make room for Plaza Pacifica near the Pacific Amphitheatre.
That sparked an outcry from veterans and preservationists who lobbied to save the building — a remnant of the Santa Ana Army Air Base.
In 2013, Fair Board members voted to preserve the building. They later decided to reuse it as a veterans museum.
Officials broke ground on the Heroes Hall project in March. The next month, workers painstakingly hoisted the 74-year-old building onto a flatbed and moved it to its new foundation near Centennial Farm.
Once Heroes Hall opens early next year, it will be “the only Orange County museum dedicated to the stories and sacrifices of those that served in our military,” according to the fairgrounds.
The museum will encompass more than 12,000 square feet and offer year-round educational programs, performances and rotating exhibitions.
Outside the building is a courtyard that includes memorial plaques and a 50-foot-wide decorative tile centerpiece modeled after the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Friday’s dedication ceremony is free to attend and will start at 1 p.m. at the fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive.
Costa Mesa City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to send a gift to help mark the occasion — $25,000 in additional funding for Heroes Hall.
That’s on top of $25,000 the council donated last year.
For more information about the project or to register to attend the ceremony, visit ocfair.com/heroeshall.
Twitter: @LukeMMoney
