You can get general information about the Kansas Museum of History WWI exhibit, “Captured:  The Extraordinary Adventures of Colonel Hughes” on the KSHS website: www.kshs.org/p/kansas-museum-of-history-world-war-i-exhibit/19093.

Here are links to some of the press attention for the exhibit:

cjonline.com/news/2016-05-22/pancho-villa-end-world-war-ii-manchuria-topekans-life-chronicled-museum-exhibit#

cjonline.com/news/2016-05-28/exhibit-world-war-i-world-war-ii-veteran-pow-opens

beta.spotted.cjonline.com/mediadetail/26568726/?gId=665117

And if that isn’t enough, when you come to the museum to see “Captured,” see the panel exhibit on “World War I Inventions:”

Photo Exhibit – World War I Inventions

Eisenhower's jacket at the Kansas Museum of History

Many things developed during World War I are now used every day by millions of people, for example, the wristwatch. Soldiers could easily check the time without removing their hands from their weapons. The metal guard was added to help prevent against damage. This wristwatch was owned by Kansan Lewis W. Arnold. Other World War I inventions:

  • Zipper
  • Kimberly-Clark Company created Kleenex

But wait, there’s more!  Keep in mind the “Museum After Hours” lecture series that will run at least through June 2017.  Many of the lectures are WWI related, and several are being given by our good friends and colleagues at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City:

www.kshs.org/p/museum-after-hours/19702

Blair Tarr is the Museum Curator of the Kansas State Historical Society. He oversees the three-dimensional collections of the Society, but has special interests in the Civil War, Wichita-made Valentine diners, and Leavenworth's Abernathy Furniture. In the last few years he has also done a lot of cramming on The Great War. He is a past president of the Kansas Museums Association and the Civil War Round Tables of both Kansas City and Eastern Kansas. He is currently a board member of the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City.