World War I exhibition coming to the Longmont Museum
World War I exhibition coming to the Longmont Museum
As the United States commemorates the centennial anniversary of the American military entering World War I, the Longmont Museum will unveil a new exhibition illustrating Longmont’s role in the Great War. Opening February 2, 2018, WWI: Longmont & the Great War will tell the story of World War I through the experiences of people from Longmont – soldiers, doctors and nurses in training and overseas, as well as people on the homefront.
“The centennial is a great chance to look back on a conflict that reshaped the map of Europe and brought the U.S. firmly onto the world stage,” said Museum Curator of History Erik Mason. “Through the Museum’s collections, we have an opportunity to tell a very personal story about the impact of the War on our own community.”
Items from the Museum’s collections (some 17,000 3-D objects and 10,000 catalogued photographs) will make up the bulk of the exhibition, including full infantry uniforms, an airplane propeller, propaganda posters, photographs, letters and many other personal objects.
The Museum is looking to the community for family heirlooms and artifacts from the War that will help complete the story. Some of the items the Museum is looking for include a pilot helmet or goggles; photographs or objects relating to soldiers, including weapons; and artifacts relating to medical care during the War or subsequent 1918-1919 influenza epidemic.
The Museum is also looking for local descendants of the following Longmont residents who were involved in World War I: Gordon Atherton, John Harold Buckley, Roscoe Douglass, Erma Dryden (later Walsh), Gaylord Frazier, Chester Heggem, Ross Large, Byron McGwire, Frank Morrison, Frances O’Connor (later Walsh), Glenn Packer, Dr. Vivian Pennock, Edna Scott, Albert “Dick” Smith, John Strand, Raymond White, and Dr. Willard White. The Museum hopes to connect with family members or friends who can help share the story of the War’s effect on Longmont, both at home and overseas.
Please contact Erik Mason at 303-651-8969 if you would like to contribute to this upcoming exhibition.
LONGMONT MUSEUM
The Longmont Museum is a center culture in Northern Colorado where people of all ages explore history, experience art, and discover new ideas through dynamic programs, exhibitions and events. Regional history, internationally-known artists, and explorations of culture are all part of the mix of exhibitions at the Longmont Museum. Permanent exhibits document the 14,000 years of human history in Longmont and the people who helped to create this community. Special exhibits in the Museum’s main gallery, Portal Gallery and Swan Atrium change several times a year.
Learn more at www.longmontmuseum.org or visit us at 400 Quail Road, Longmont CO 80501.