National
Medal of Honor Heritage Center
Chattanooga, TN
Experiential Planning and Design
Content Development
Project Management
overview
Working at the clients request for life-like characters, we created a timeline of twenty realistic scenes based on conflicts in American history that placed full-size plaster figures of recipients in uniform, each carefully researched and precisely sculpted to match facial features, in the action positions and environments that best represented their medal citation. Though we had only eighteen months to design and complete the 10,000 sq. ft. main gallery and 2000 sq. ft. temporary gallery space, we delivered this turnkey project on time and on budget.
From May 2018 to the opening in February 2020, Encore led the project team as the interpretive planner, content developer, and primary experiential designer for this new interpretive center that tells the stories of recipients of the nation’s highest decoration awarded for military valor, the Medal of Honor.
services
Encore Interpretive Design was honored to create the Captain Larry L. Taylor exhibit, which opened in March 2025 at the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Our team collaborated with the client to create a deeply immersive environment that brings to life the inspiring story of Captain Taylor-a Chattanooga native and Vietnam War hero awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary courage during the Battle of Khe Sanh.
Larry Taylor Exhibit
The exhibit invites visitors into the heart of Taylor’s daring 1968 rescue mission, featuring a full-sized replica of his AH-1G Cobra helicopter and life-sized sculptures of the men he saved, all set among authentic historical artifacts such as Taylor’s uniform, flight helmet, and military log. Every element was meticulously researched and designed to honor Taylor’s legacy, foster emotional connection, and inspire future generations with his selfless bravery.
Encore’s approach ensured that the exhibit not only met the client’s vision for authenticity and impact but also aligned with the Heritage Center’s mission to preserve and share stories of valor. The result is a powerful, interactive experience that stands as a lasting tribute to Captain Taylor and all who serve.
Opened March 2025
The National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and Encore Interpretive Design are working on a new exhibit that tells the story of Medal of Honor recipients Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart through the eyes of Super 64 pilot, Michael Durant, from the Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia, October 1993.
Super 64
Immersive Theater
Using 360°projection technology and hydraulic Blackhawk seats that tilt, sway, and shake, audiences will experience an authentic reproduction of the events of Super 64. Employing a combination of archival video footage, radio transmissions, enhanced animation, and narrator Michael Durant, we will recreate the events surrounding the Blackhawk, both in the air and on the ground, in a ten-minute audio/video/sensory production of Gordon and Shughart’s selfless determination to save the lives of as many of the crash survivors as possible.
Michael Durant
