Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Visitor Center Renovations Underway
On September 26, 1918 American forces began fighting in what would become known as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I. This 47-day battle would prove to be one of the most significant in American history. Nearly 100 years later, to coincide with the centennial of the Great War, the American Battle Monuments Commissions (ABMC) is renovating the existing Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Visitor Center to create an interpretive visitor experience.
With more than 14,000 Americans that died in the offensive buried at this cemetery, the renovated visitor center will commemorate the battle and honor those Americans that served.
Prior to the renovations, the visitor center included office space for cemetery staff and a central location for visitors to pick-up information about the site. The renovation work, which began on September 9, 2015, will transform the existing space into a series of exhibits that explain the critical importance of this World War I event.
Because the Meuse-Argonne Offensive happened nearly a century ago, its significance can be overshadowed by events of World War II. But this new interpretive experience will emphasize that the Meuse-Argonne Offensive’s place in American history cannot be understated—the United States was becoming a global power.
These exhibits will show how a relatively inexperienced American Army fought against a seasoned enemy. Men from all walks of life—different races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic status—fought shoulder to shoulder together in the trenches of France. These soldiers saw and experienced new warfare technologies that had never before been unleashed on human beings. And despite these factors that seemed to work against American forces, extreme bravery and courage proved to be the sounding call of the offensive with more than 50 Medal of Honor recipients.
And when the war ended the American government realized its responsibility to the fallen and their families, and with this, offered an unprecedented option in the early 20th century—bring your loved one home for permanent burial, or have them remain overseas for burial in a commemorative cemetery, such as Meuse-Argonne.
This new visitor center will explore all of these ideas, while bringing the visitor a piece of the 1920s. As part of the renovations, the entrance area will be returned to its original look from 1924, when the building served as a hostess house for families and visitors to the cemetery. This renovated 1,600-square-foot space is expected to reopen in late 2016.
And as part of these efforts, Montfaucon American Monument, located about seven miles from the cemetery, also will receive new interpretive panels to help visitors understand why the monument was erected.
ABMC is dedicated to bringing excellent experiences to visitors around the globe through new visitor centers. The Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center opened in 2007, followed by visitor centers at Cambridge American Cemetery, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Pointe du Hoc in 2014.