Historic National World War I Museum and Memorial Renovations

On the Register of Historic Places and a National Historic Landmark, the National World War I Memorial has been ever-evolving since its erection in 1926. JE Dunn completed a 170,000 SF restoration and adaptive reconstruction of the Memorial which updated the facilities to current code and accessibility requirements, provide modern security, lighting, and environmental controls. The renovated facility also houses an expanded National World War I Museum, which is the largest and most important collection of World War I artifacts in the United States. To enter the exhibits, visitors cross a glass bridge spanning a field of 9,000 silk poppies, each representing 1,000 deaths and serves as a reminder of the 9 million combatants killed in the war. The tower is visible through the skylight. At the Portrait Wall, visitors can use interactive displays to read stories of the people who served in the war. In the Horizon Theater, visitors can view a film explaining America’s entry into the war, which plays over a 200-foot long, life-size trench.

Most recently, the Museum opened its newly renovated lower level featuring the new Bergman Family Gallery and Open Storage Center. The gallery adds approximately 4,000 square feet of storage, including a 190-foot “coastline” of window cases displaying artifacts that were previously stored in closed back-of-house storage facilities. This innovative space provides guests with a unique experience of observing curators and archivists prepare artifacts for display in one of the world’s largest WWI collections.