The museum's governing body is the Council of the Northern Ireland War Memorial. The purposes of the Council of the Northern Ireland War Memorial are threefold: to provide an enduring memorial to the people of Northern Ireland who lost their lives in the First and Second World War, in particular the Belfast blitz; to provide office accommodation for ex-Service organisations; to commemorate the association of the Armed Forces of the USA with Northern Ireland in the Second World War. The Council of the Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM) operates an accredited museum which tells the story of how Northern Ireland was affected by and contributed to the Second World War. The museum has an expanding collection and offers a range of family events and workshops for schools and community groups. The vision of the museum is to enrich people’s understanding of the contribution of the people of Northern Ireland in the Second World War and the presence of US Armed Forces in Northern Ireland at that time, by preserving and displaying a unique collection and delivering a programme of learning and events to visitors and tourists from around the world. Situated in the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, the museum tells the story of the Belfast Blitz 1941, the Ulster Home Guard, wartime industries and the presence of US Forces in Northern Ireland.