This Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war.The setting for World War I.Wilhelm II of Germany and Franz-Josef of Austria-Hungary.European empires controlled half of the world’s surface.Europe was by far the strongest economic engine of the world.This “World War” was fought on many fronts…the Western..…the Eastern…African..Near East…Gallipoli (Turkey)…Even Asia and Japan!The trigger for World War I: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Bosnian Serb nationalist.Various cannons from the war. These are a German 15 cm Heavy Field Howitzer, Model 1902 and a British 5 inch Heavy Field Gun, Mark I.German 24.5 cm New Model Heavy Trench Mortar (Minenwerfer), Model 1916French 75 mm Field Gun, Model of 1897Austro-Hungarian 8 cm Field Gun, Model 5/8Bavarian 15 cm Heavy Field Howitzer (SFH), 1893Whitehead Torpedo, Mark I, manufactured in the USA, this type of torpedo was used on British, French, Russian and Japanese submarines during the war.Naval Mine, US-made Mark IV, Model 1, 1917, contained 300 pounds of TNT.We stayed out of the war until 1917. President Woodrow Wilson campaigned for reelection in 1916 highlighting that he had kept us out of the war.President Woodrow WilsonBritish Dehavilland DH2German Fokker D.VIIThis was the legendary Red Baron.Trenches.War recruiting postersFord Model T Truck, 1918, Light Delivery Body. These trucks were used for transporting supplies and equipment without military paint or markings.Red Cross wagon and infirmary cot.1917 Harley Davidson motorcycleFrench-made Renault FT17 TankGeneral John J. Pershing, Commander, American Expeditionary ForcesUS Army Nurse Corps uniform worn by Amy Beers, who served on a “shock team” treating severely wounded soldiers. She rigged up an apparatus to conduct heat into hospital beds. She served more than twelve months overseas. After the war she returned to the states and became a nursing administrator.This cane was crafted from the wing of Quentin Roosevelt’s plane that was shot down by the Germans. President Theodore Roosevelt’s son was killed in 1918 just months before the Armistice was signed. The Germans, out of respect for the ex-president, conducted an honorable funeral for Quentin.Austrian uniforms.Russian uniforms.Austro-Hungarian General’s hatArmistice ends the war on November 11, 1918.Unfortunately, the way World War I ended paved the way for the rise of Adolph Hitler, and World War II.Below the bridge leading to the inside of the museum are 9,000 poppies. Each poppy represents 1,000 World War I combatants who lost their lives during their service, honoring the 9 million total soldiers killed.We were at the museum during Memorial Day weekend, so there were many flags all around.It was rainy earlier in the day.
