The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center was recognized by the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) with the 2026 Award of Excellence for its permanent installation, the Captain Larry Taylor Exhibit. This recognition reflects a clear standard established by the the heritage center to celebrate the humanity and character traits associated with being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center s the recipient of the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) 2026 Award of Excellence for the Captain Larry Taylor Exhibit.
The exhibit is structured around tangible, primary elements of Captain Larry Taylor’s true story from the Vietnam War. It houses his awards, uniform, Medal of Honor, and personal items—objects that anchor the experience in its humanity.
The inclusion of a full-sized Cobra helicopter fuselage further reinforces this approach, providing physical scale and context to the actions being interpreted. Visitors are not asked to imagine the environment—they are placed within it.
A 12-minute film documenting the events surrounding Taylor’s Medal of Honor adds another layer of clarity. The film functions as a narrative spine, guiding visitors through the sequence of events with structure and intention. This combination of physical artifacts and controlled storytelling creates a cohesive experience, where each element supports the same central objective: understanding the reality of the action being recognized.
Leslie and Isaac, the staff members who accepted the award on behalf of the Heritage Center were thrilled by the news and the work reflects the coordination required across curation, design, and production. Historical preservation in this context requires decisions about what to include, how to frame it, and how to ensure that the interpretation remains accurate while still being accessible to all age groups.
The TAM Award of Excellence signals that the exhibit meets a professional benchmark for museum execution. The Captain Larry Taylor Exhibit succeeds because it maintains focus. It does not dilute its subject or expand beyond its scope. Instead, it commits to a single story and builds an environment that allows that story to be understood through multiple forms—artifact, scale, and film.
This level of discipline is what separates effective exhibits from informational displays. The recognition from the Tennessee Association of Museums affirms that when history is presented with clarity, structure, and intent, it becomes something people can engage with, understand, and carry forward.
If you haven’t already, join us at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center next door to the aquarium in Downtown Chattanooga, TN.
Watch the full Larry Taylor Film below.
