World War I Exhibit

This traveling exhibit will be on display starting in May at the Hart Memorial Library. Every month the exhibit will go to different branch locations: Veterans Memorial Library – St. Cloud Branch, Buenaventura Lakes Library, West Osceola Library, and Poinciana Library.

World War I: Lessons and Legacies explores “the war to end all wars” and its lasting impact and far-reaching influence on American life. Sparked by the assassination of one man, the war eventually included the forces of the world’s major industrial powers (over 18 countries) and ended with millions dead. Beyond the countries involved and people affected, World War I gave rise to significant and enduring changes in America. Wartime technologies and medical advances resulted in new industries and novel ways to fight disease and treat disability. The roles that women and minorities filled in the war led to the right to vote for women and a raised consciousness of civil rights issues throughout society. From the Great Migration to the 1918 flu pandemic and from the unionization movement to women’s suffrage, World War I led to pivotal changes in America’s culture, technology, economy, and role in the world. It redefined how we saw ourselves as Americans and its legacy continues today.

World War I: Lessons and Legacies is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Museum of American History, in cooperation with the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. It is funded in part by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee.

Visit the Smithsonian Information Page.