German (Prussian) Officer's Overcoat

Recently added to the Museum and Memorial's collection, this German officer's overcoat (called a paletot) is a light gray overcoat made of fine wool that was worn by a Hauptmann (Captain) of the 21st...

Zimmermann Telegram

On March 1, 1917, the American public learned about a German proposal to ally with Mexico if the United States entered the war.

SECRET - List of Coded Words

The military has used codes and ciphers for years, but the use and complexity of codes skyrocketed during World War I. Whether sent by telegraph, signal lights, messenger dog, carrier pigeon or early...

Ruses and Snares

Training Circular No. 21 “Ruses and Snares of the Enemy when Retreating” was used by the 77th Division at Camp Upton in early 1918 to train soldiers before going to France.

Barometric Chart of War Atmosphere and Feelings

Honoria Constance Lawrence created this chart titled "A Weekly War Record of Feelings in England as experienced by a Civilian from Aug. 3rd 1914 to Nov. 11th 1918, constituting a Barometric Chart of...

War Brides of the Great War

The term ‘war brides’ originally referred to women who quickly married before their husbands left for military service.

Portrait of John Lewis Barkley

John Lewis Barkley was a U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient of World War I, for his valiant action in fighting holding off two German attacks with a captured machine gun.

Lusitania Medals

On May 7, 1915, the passenger liner Lusitania was sunk by German submarine U-20 in British waters. Of the passengers, 1,198 drowned, including many women and children and 124 U.S. citizens.

Legacy of the Armistice

After 1918, Nov. 11 became a day of remembrance. Commemoration practices involved both celebration and somber remembrance with ceremonies often including parades, speeches and a moment of silence.

Nov. 11, 1918

On Nov. 11, 1918, after more than four years of horrific fighting and the loss of millions of lives, the guns on the Western Front fell silent.

Women’s Suffrage

When the 19th Amendment took effect on Aug. 18, 1920, it followed over a century and a half of activism by and for women.

All Saints Day & All Souls Day

While Halloween is widely celebrated in the United States, for many people in Europe the two days following Oct. 31 are publicly and privately more significant.

Grace D. Banker

Grace Banker was the Chief Operator of the U.S. Signal Corps’ women telephone operators.