Skip to main content
Smithsonian Website
Search Google Appliance
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Donate Button
Donate
American History Home
American History Home
Menu
O Say Can You See?
Stories from the Museum
Collections & Exhibitions
Search the Collections
Search for...
Show only items with images
Show only items with no use restrictions
Browse by Subject
Online Exhibitions
Object Groups
Archives Center
Rights and Reproductions
Topics
African American History
Asian Pacific American History
Infectious Disease History
Latino History
LGBTQ History
Women's History
See all topics...
Connect to History
O Say Can You See? Blog
Digital and Social Media
Podcasts
Monthly Newsletter
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
Instagram
Teachers & Students
Resources for Educators
Fun Stuff for Kids
FAQ for Educators
FAQ for Parents
Plan a Field Trip
Plan Your Visit
Visit Info
Info en español
Hours
Museum Map
Food & Stores
FAQ for Visitors
Plan a Field Trip
Today's Hours
10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
View in Maps
Exhibitions
On View
Upcoming
Events
Calendar of Events
Jazz
Chamber Music
History Film Forum
The Museum
Mission & History
Strategic Plan
FAQs
Press Information
Museum Reports
Facility Rental
Our People
Staff
Departments
African American History Curatorial Collective
Staff Publications
Museum Board
Contact Information
Get Involved
Internship Program
Fellowship Program
Volunteer Program
Job Opportunities
Membership & Giving
Learn More and Donate
Join the Council
Gift Planning
EDM in the history museum: Steve Aoki gear travels the world and finds a home at the museum
Music blasts toward the audience as concertgoers dance to Steve Aoki's pounding bass rhythms and bright LED displays. The DJ throws cakes...
You're invited to a Bowl of Rice Party
Wartime often catalyzes developments in philanthropy. In 2017, the museum added the Bowl of Rice party banner, from fundraising efforts to...
6 Jewish American objects for Jewish American Heritage Month
In April 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May to be Jewish American Heritage Month. Jewish American objects in our collections...
Blog Posts in "World War I"
View All
Business History
Food History
Latino History & Culture
Medicine & Science
Philanthropy
More Categories
All Categories
African American History
Agricultural History
Behind the Scenes
Business History
Civil War
Clothing & Accessories
Conservation
Director's Notes
Disability History
Donor Spotlight
Film & Television
First Ladies
Food History
From the Collections
Intern Perspectives
Invention & Innovation
Jazz Appreciation
Kids & Museums
Latino History & Culture
LGBTQ+ History
Medicine & Science
Music
Musings
Native American History
Numismatics
Object Project
Philanthropy
Public Programs
Religion in America
September 11
Smithsonian Gardens
Star-Spangled Banner
Stories of Freedom & Justice
Teaching & Learning
Textiles
Transportation History
Women's History
World War I
You Asked, We Answer
He? She? Or just plain Cher Ami? Solving a century-old pigeon mystery
This summer marks the centennial of a bird—possibly the most famous pigeon in history—going on display at the Smithsonian. A representative...
Kerr Eby and the First World War
“About the prints … I make no comment, save that they were made from the indelible impressions of war. They are not imaginary. I saw them...
America's Kaiser: How a pigeon served in two World Wars
Souvenirs from battlefields the world over can be found in our Division of Political and Military History. Unique among them is a mounted...
How black Philadelphians fought for soldiers during World War I
Suffering from "shell shock and a general breakdown," Charles Mackall and James Randall arrived in Philadelphia in September 1918 from...
Who are the Dewdrop Fairies?
While most of us have heard of the victory gardens of World War II, many of us may not realize that those gardens are seeded in a history...
The dueling designs for the modern x-ray tube in World War I
Twenty years before the start of World War I, a new "light" that could pass through a human body revealing its underlying structures caused...
Tiny capsules, national service: The draft during World War I
After maintaining neutrality for three years, the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917. Expecting around a million enlistees...
Showing support for the Great War with knitting needles
Today, I spend spare time between classes working at my college's library or hanging out with friends. Had I been an American college...
Illustrating Prisoners in the Great War
When the United States entered the Great War in 1917, the U.S. Army commissioned eight professional artists to record the activities of the...
Where is the missing piece of lining in this U.S. Navy nurse's cape?
"The early morning whistles blew, the water craft sounded their signals in passing, an auto truck went thumping by, and the sun shot into...
A tea set for war relief: Liberty China and Queen’s Ware in World War I
"When our country entered the Great War I decided to have this chapter in our history commemorated by a patriotic china, to be made by a...
Over There: A Buffalo Soldier in World War I
Offered in celebration of Black History Month and in recognition of the 100th anniversary of America's participation in World War I, the...
This Galentine's Day blog post is for you. You poetic, noble land-mermaid.
On February 13, women everywhere (we hope!) will be gathering together to celebrate Galentine's Day. First introduced in 2010 by character...
Post-World War I tales: A silk surplus, armistice fashion, and a philanthropic innovator
Even before the United States entered the First World War in 1917, procurement officers for the armed forces began to look for sources for...
Incredible silk portrait depicts French hero Marshal Ferdinand Foch
Continuing our World War I series, discover an incredible portrait of a war hero.During World War I, several French textile manufacturers...
Mothers in World War I
When people think of World War I, they often think of soldiers fighting in trenches. But soldiers weren't the only ones doing the work of...
Americans who joined the World War before their country did
April 6, 2016, marks the 99th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. Although the country would not be drawn into combat until...
General Pershing's Mexican Expedition to capture Pancho Villa predates his World War I career
The small American town of Columbus, New Mexico, was the site of a major event 100 years ago today. On March 9, 1916, spurred by events in...
Picturing women's participation during the Great War
I came back from my eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., with a Rosie the Riveter poster from the museum store here (not...
Keeping Khaki-Kool during World War I
Next in our World War I series this month, a look at what we now consider a go-to, neutral fabric for almost any season.In 1915 American...
Textiles from samplers to baby bonnets reveal participation—and exclusion—in American democracy and culture
This week, we're exploring how participation—people joining together to accomplish shared goals—shapes American life by exploring our...
The World War I story of Nénette and Rintintin
Some dolls, some dogs, and a charming Parisian story from our textile collections, part of our World War I series this month.In July 1918,...
From satin to khaki: Women join the Military Preparedness Movement of 1916
6:00 a.m. June 16, 1916. Nestled in the Ramapo Mountains of Passaic County, New Jersey, lay an orderly row of cream-colored tents. At the...
At home and "Over There": Women in World War I object group
The Women in World War I object group was a long labor of love for my internship. Essentially an online exhibition, the object...
The "new vogue for black and white" during World War I dye shortages
On December 18, 1915, Edith Bolling Galt married President Woodrow Wilson in a ceremony at her home in Washington, D.C. This very private...
The delicate "war laces" of World War I
"War" and "lace" are not often part of the same sentence. However, laces made in Belgium during World War I are an exception. About 50 of...
Remember the Lusitania: 3 pieces of World War I propaganda
One hundred years ago on May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,195...
A mother's solace: A letter from a World War I enemy
In 1922, four years after her American son was killed in action in World War I, Sallie Maxwell Bennett received a letter from Emil...
The abstract artist and his World War I "X-Ray Car"
In 1897, at the age of 22, Henry Lyman Saÿen's career in scientific instruments seemed to be set. Little did he know that his talents would...
Embroidery under fire
The scream of incoming shells would send French peasant women dashing to their cellars for safety, but then they would pick their...
How did animals (even slugs) serve in World War I?
Veterans Day is a time to commemorate the brave men and women who are serving or have served in the armed forces. However, the service of...
An American take on the world of Downton Abbey
Are you one of Downton Abbey's many American fans? With the new fourth season airing here in the U.S. on PBS ...
A parallel journey: A grandson's tribute to a World War I hero
Thinking about researching a relative's wartime experiences? Jeff Lowdermilk's story of researching his grandfather's military service may...
The bugle that sounded the end of the First World War
Update in November 2018: This blog post will updated with new research in the coming months. Kelly Whitson, who works with our...
Uncle Sam: The man and the meme
In honor of Uncle Sam Day, we tracked down the story of the familiar bearded figure.Drawing by James Montgomery Flagg of Uncle Sam....
Dazzle camouflage: The art of war
Last week, Intern Joseph Brichacek explained how one World War I artist found inspiration from colorful camouflage. Today, he examines how...
Sketching World War I: A picture in camo
Joseph Brichacek, an intern with the Military History Collections Project, explores how camouflage blurs the lines between...
Women in uniform, World War I edition
In the spring of 1998, I joined the National Museum of American History as a curator of Armed Forces History. Shortly after I arrived, my...
Stubby: Dog, Hoya mascot, and war hero
Stubby the dog, known to many as “Sgt. Stubby”, is one of my favorite artifacts in the Armed Forces History collections. He was the mascot...
Learning about sacrifice on Veterans Day
As Veterans Day approaches, I have found myself reflecting on the common practice of having grade school students interview veterans for...
Tweets by @amhistorymuseum
Search Google Appliance
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Home
Visit
General Info
Info en español
Hours
Getting Here
Museum Map
Food & Stores
Kids
Exhibitions
Events
Collections
Educator Resources
Blog
About the Museum
About Our People
Get Involved
Giving
Press
Smithsonian Website