Coming Soon to the Concord Museum and The Cabarrus County Veterans Museum

“Over There and Back Home:

Cabarrus County and the War to End All Wars”

Opening on February 20th, 2018

World War I was known by many names, the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars. The Great War began in Europe in 1914 and escalated on a global scale, with battles being fought in Europe, Africa, and Asia. An estimated 70 million military personnel were involved in the war and over 9 million soldiers and 7 million civilians lost their lives, making WWI one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

The United States, under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson, maintained neutrality from the escalating war overseas. The U.S. did not enter the war officially until April of 1917. The decision to join the war effort came after Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare, targeting U.S. merchant ships, and after a particularly alarming telegram was sent to Mexico inviting the nation to join Germany in fighting against the neutral United States. 2.8 million American men were drafted and by the summer of 1918 approximately 10,000 American troops were being shipped to France each day, providing fresh soldiers for the European stage.

Cabarrus County provided almost 1,000 men and women to serve in the Great War. This exhibit will tell their story and the story of the families they left behind in Cabarrus County to protect the Home Front 100 years ago.