In the summer of 1914, the world went to war. Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a complicated system of alliances between countries collapsed, while others emerged as the result of previous pacts, creating a conflict with extraordinary consequences.
On one side were the Allies—chiefly Russia, France, and Britain—and on the other side were the Central Powers—primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. Both sides anticipated a brief war, but the conflict grew into an unprecedented total war that employed trench warfare, tanks, airplanes, and poison gas in its destruction of human life. Almost sixty-five million soldiers fought, and more than nine million died by the time the guns fell silent on November 11, 1918. Because of its size and scope, many people called it the Great War.
The United States entered World War I in April 1917 on the side of the Allies, and an estimated 95,000 Alabamians served in uniform. Alabama troops fought in pivotal battles during the last year of the war, often with distinction. On the home front, citizens worked in factories and participated in volunteer efforts to support the troops overseas.
Remembering the Great War tells the story of the war from the perspectives of Alabamians whose lives were shaped by the conflict.
EXHIBIT SCHEDULE & events
EXHIBIT PREVIEW: ALABAMA STATE CAPITOL
March 7, 2017 to March 8, 2017
600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
EXHIBIT LAUNCH & PREVIEW SCREENING OF THE GREAT WAR
April 6, 2017
Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities
Pebble Hill (101 S. Debardeleben Street, Auburn, AL)
Join us for the launch of Remembering the Great War: Alabama and World War One. A reception and exhibit preview will begin at 4 p.m. A special preview screening of the American Experience | PBS documentary The Great War will begin at 5 p.m. The Great War tells the rich and complex story of World War I through the voices of nurses, journalists, aviators and the American troops who came to be known as “doughboys.”
For more information, visit www.auburn.edu/cah.
EXHIBIT: CAROLINE MARSHALL DRAUGHON CENTER FOR THE ARTS & HUMANITIES*
April 6, 2017 to April 22, 2017
Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities
Pebble Hill, 101 S. Debardeleben Street, Auburn, AL
*By appointment. Call (334) 844-4903 or email maiben@auburn.edu.
For more information, visit www.auburn.edu/cah.
EXHIBIT: BLOUNT COUNTY MEMORIAL MUSEUM
April 23, 2017 to May 5, 2017
204 2nd Street N, Oneonta, AL 35121
For more information, visit www.blountmuseum.org.
SPEAKER SERIES: ROD FRAZER
"Send the Alabamians: World War I Fighters in the Rainbow Division"
April 23, 2017, 2 p.m.
Blount County Memorial Museum
204 2nd Street N, Oneonta, AL 35121
EXHIBIT: LEWIS COOPER JR. MEMORIAL LIBRARY
May 5, 2017 to May 19, 2017
200 South 6th Street, Opelika, AL 36801
For more information, visit www.cooperlibrary.com.
SPEAKER SERIES: SEBASTIAN LUKASIK
“The First World War Draft and American Political Culture: The Case of Alabama”
May 6, 2017, 10 a.m.
Eufaula Carnegie Library
217 N Eufaula Ave, Eufaula, AL 36027
SPEAKER SERIES: MARTY OLLIFF
"The Great War in the Heart of Dixie: Alabama in World War I"
May 9, 2017, 1 p.m.
Opelika Public Library
200 S. 6th Street, Opelika, AL 36801
EXHIBIT: USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK
13th Annual Blue Star Salute
May 20, 2017
2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL 36602
For more information, visit www.ussalabama.com or www.bluestarsalute.org.
EXHIBIT: OZARK DALE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
May 21, 2017 to June 5, 2017
416 James Street, Ozark, AL 36360
For more information, visit www.odcpl.com.
EXHIBIT: ETOWAH HERITAGE MUSEUM | ETOWAH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
June 5, 2017 to June 28, 2017
2829 W Meighan Blvd, Gadsden, AL 35904
For more information, visit www.etowahhistory.com.
SPEAKER SERIES: MARTY OLLIFF
"The Great War in the Heart of Dixie: Alabama in World War I"
June 9, 2017, 6 p.m.
Elliott Community Center | Etowah Historical Society
29th & Meighan Blvd., Gadsden, AL 35901
EXHIBIT: FLORENCE-LAUDERDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY
June 28, 2017 to July 21, 2017
350 North Wood Avenue Florence, AL 35630
For more information, visit www.flpl.org.
SPEAKER SERIES: MATTHEW DOWNS
“Florence, Muscle Shoals, and the Impact of World War I"
July 20, 2017, 11:30 a.m.
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
350 North Wood Avenue Florence, AL 35630
EXHIBIT: SCOTTSBORO DEPOT MUSEUM
July 21, 2017 to August 7, 2017
N Houston & E Maple Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768
For more information, visit www.scottsborodepotmuseum.com.
SPEAKER SERIES: BERT HITCHCOCK
“William March and Company K"
July 30, 2017, 2 p.m.
Scottsboro Depot Museum
N Houston & E Maple Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768
SPEAKER SERIES: STEVE TROUT
“A War to Be Forgotten?: World War I and American Remembrance"
July 30, 2017, 2:30 p.m.
Clarke County Historical Society
116 W. Cobb Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451
EXHIBIT: ELMORE COUNTY MUSEUM
August 7, 2017 to August 28, 2017
112 S Main Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092
For more information, visit www.wetumpkalibrary.com.
SPEAKER SERIES: RUTH TRUSS
“Alabama’s Own in the Great War"
August 12, 2017, 1 p.m.
Dothan Houston County Library
445 North Oates Street, Dothan, AL 36303
SPEAKER SERIES: RUTH TRUSS
“Alabama’s 167th Infantry Regiment in World War I: Commemorating 100 Years of Service"
August 22, 2017, 6:30 p.m.
Elmore County Museum
112 S Main Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092
EXHIBIT: UNION STATION
August 28, 2017
210 Water St, Montgomery, AL 36104
EXHIBIT: ANNIE L. AWBREY PUBLIC LIBRARY
August 29, 2017 to September 28, 2017
736 College Street, Roanoke, AL 36274
For more information, visit www.cheaharegionallibrary.org
SPEAKER SERIES: DERRYN MOTEN
“’Measuring Up to the Standards of Democracy’: The Patriotic Work of Tuskegee's Robert Russa Moton and Emmett Jay Scott during The Great War"
September 7, 2017, 4 p.m.
Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities
Pebble Hill, 101 S. Debardeleben Street, Auburn, AL
SPEAKER SERIES: KERI HALLFORD
“The Art of the Great War”
September 20, 2017, Noon
Annie L. Awbrey Public Library
736 College Street, Roanoke, AL 36274
EXHIBIT: MONROE COUNTY MUSEUM
September 29, 2017 to November 2, 2017
31 N. Alabama Avenue, Monroeville, AL 36460
For more information, visit www.monroecountymuseum.org
EXHIBIT: H. GRADY BRADSHAW - CHAMBERS COUNTY LIBRARY
November 3, 2017 to December 7, 2017
3419 20th Avenue, Valley, AL 36854
For more information, visit www.chamberscountylibrary.org.
SPEAKER SERIES: BERT HITCHCOCK
“William March and Company K"
November 10, 2017, Noon
3419 20th Avenue, Valley, AL 36854
H. Grady Bradshaw - Chambers County Library
SPEAKER SERIES: BERT HITCHCOCK
“Hearing a Different Drummer: William March's Novel Company K"
November 14, 2017, 6 p.m.
Birmingham Public Library (Central Library/Arrington Auditorium)
2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
EXHIBIT: LIMESTONE COUNTY ARCHIVES
December 8, 2017 to January 4, 2018
102 Washington St E, Athens, AL 35611
For more information, visit www.limestonecounty-al.gov/departments/archives/.
EXHIBIT: NORTHEAST ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
January 8, 2017 to January 26, 2018
Cecil B. Word Learning Resources Center | 138 Alabama Highway 35, Rainsville, AL 35986
For more information, visit www.nacc.edu/library/archives.
EXHIBIT: DRAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
February 1, 2018 to February 2, 2018
*Open to the public February 1, 2018 from 10 a.m. to noon.*
655 Spencer Ave, Auburn, AL 36832
For more information, visit www.auburnschools.org/dms.
EXHIBIT: MARENGO COUNTY HISTORY AND ARCHIVES MUSEUM
February 6, 2018 to March 30, 2018
101 North Walnut Avenue, Demopolis, AL 36732
EXHIBIT: SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
April 2, 2018 to September 7, 2018
4343 73rd St N, Birmingham, Alabama 35206
For more information, visit www.southernmuseumofflight.org.
EXHIBIT: MONTGOMERY CITY-COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
September 7, 2018 to October 25, 2018
245 High Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
For more information, visit mccpl.lib.al.us/locations_morgan.
EXHIBIT: GREENVILLE-BUTLER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
October 27, 2018 to November 17, 2018
309 Fort Dale Road, Greenville, AL 36037
For more information, visit www.greenville-bcpl.org.
EXHIBIT: DRAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
January 28, 2019 to January 29, 2019
655 Spencer Ave, Auburn, AL 36832
For more information, visit www.auburnschools.org/dms.
EXHIBIT: FORT MORGAN HISTORIC SITE
February 2, 2019 to August 12, 2019
110 AL-180, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
For more information, visit www.fort-morgan.org.
EXHIBIT: CLARKE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
August 12, 2019 to November 15, 2019
116 W. Cobb Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451
For more information, visit www.clarkemuseum.com.
EXHIBIT: OPELIKA MIDDLE SCHOOL
November 15, 2019 to November 22, 2019
1206 Denson Drive, Opelika, AL 36801
For more information, visit oms.opelikaschools.org.
about
"Remembering the Great War" is a traveling exhibit created by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University and the Alabama Department of Archives & History, with assistance from Associate Professor Shu-Wen Tzeng and Industrial Design students in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction: Ali Amacher, Alex Berry, Mark Hollister, Markell Houser, Young Hwang, Kelsey Lawrence, Ian Lee, Jared Long, Renee Melkerson, Rob Palmer, Will Patterson, Wyatt Renfro, Terra Rose, Yi Shao, Adriana Wardle, Yimeng Zhang, and Qianmo Zhang.
The “Remembering the Great War” speaker series is supported in part by the Alabama Humanities Foundation. A private, nonprofit organization, the Alabama Humanities Foundation is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information, visit alabamahumanities.org.
“Remembering the Great War: Alabama and World War One" is the recipient of an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 73rd year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. For more information about AASLH, visit aaslh.org.