He was the man best known for entertaining America's troops. Now the legacy and wartime experiences of Bob Hope and his wife Dolores will be preserved and educate thousands of people, through a $3 million donation to the National World War II Museum.
"The generous donation will support integrating Bob Hope’s wartime legacy comprehensively throughout the Museum’s campus," said the museum in a statement. "Hope’s story, which is a significant component of World War II, represents the value of laughter and humanity in even the darkest times."
Hope died in 2003 at the age of 100. His wife died in 2011 at the age of 102. Both were well-known for their decades of work entertaining American servicemen and women, especially in USO shows during World War II. It was a practice the entertainers continued through the 1990s.
The museum and Hope's foundation are collaborating to create content for the museum, to integrate the Hopes' story into museum exhibits. Already planned are a Bob Hope “Dog Tag Experience,” a documentary about his life’s achievements, a special exhibit complete with iconic artifacts and a film series honoring his legacy.
Additionally, the museum will honor Bob Hope’s legacy of entertaining troops by offering military, families of military and veterans a select number of free tickets to shows at BB’s Stage Door Canteen. The new program, which is called Tickets for Troops, launched this summer along with an annual youth theater camp designed to teach students about Hope’s role in World War II, as well as aspects of dance, song, costume and set design. The camp will conclude with a variety show performed by the students each July.
“I know my Dad would be extremely proud of this association with The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, one of his favorite cities,” said Linda Hope, daughter of the entertainer. “The men and women who served during that war had a special place in his heart. Their spirit and love of our country never ceased to inspire him.”
The WWII Museum hosted a traveling exhibit of Bob Hope memorabilia in 2013. That exhibit included Hope’s Congressional Gold Medal and honorary Oscar statuette as well as dozens of personal items, covering his entertainment career and even love of golf.
With the new donation, the museum will also work to digitize and preserve select Bob Hope items, making photographs, artifacts and other archival materials widely accessible online through the museum's website. Support from the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation will go towards organizing and digitizing those items.
The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation name will be recognized on a donor panel at the entrance to the special exhibit as well as on the museum’s collateral educational materials and website.
