Tryon Palace Exhibit Showcases ‘North Carolina in the Great War’

NC First World War

Free World War I exhibit opens at the NC History Center June 20

Memories of North Carolina’s involvement in World War I will come to life with “North Carolina in the Great War,” a new exhibit opening at Tryon Palace’s North Carolina History Center on June 20. This free exhibit will be open to the public through Sept. 13.

North Carolinians contributed to the wartime effort in a variety of ways, ranging from women serving as nurses in military hospitals in France, to the production of artillery shells in Raleigh and ships in Wilmington. Ultimately, there were 480,491 men from North Carolina who registered for service.

“The Great War changed North Carolina and North Carolinians,” said LeRae Umfleet, Tyron Palace assistant director and curator of the exhibit. “North Carolina emerged from this first global conflict less rural, worldlier, and better equipped to serve the nation through industry, military installations, and shipbuilding enterprises at our ports.”

North Carolina’s contributions to the war effort will be showcased through photographs, artifacts, uniforms and a life-sized display that represents the trenches commonly used during the war.

Dive deeper into World War I history this summer at the North Carolina History Center with Tryon Palace’s WWI Weekend and a series of free lectures from World War I historians and professors.

July 11: Picture War: Modern art in the combat zone

July 18: The United States Life-Saving Service and the SS Mirlo

July 25: Injured Soldier, Wounded Societies

August 8: Race, Rights, and the Great War

August 22: The German Defeat

For more information call 252-639-3500 or visit Tryon Palace’s website.

Upcoming events at Tryon Palace include:

June 23-August 11: Jonkonnu Workshops

June 25: Family Night at the Museum

July 4: The Glorious Fourth

July 11: Tryon’s Explorers: Palace Fashions

Submitted by: Craig Ramey, Marketing and Communications, Manager, Tryon Palace