Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Visitor Center Update

As the centennial of America's official involvement in World War I approaches, renovation work on the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Visitor Center continues to progress. Begun in September 2015, the existing building is being transformed to create an interpretive visitor experience that explains the critical importance of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive as it fits into the Great War.

The original building served as hostess host for families and visitors to the cemetery in the 1920s. And then throughout the ensuing decades, the inside of the building changed to adapt to the needs of cemetery staff. Prior to the renovations, the building housed cemetery offices and a space to welcome guests.

Throughout the past 10 months, crews gutted the first floor, and then renovated the space to create three main interpretive rooms. The reception or entrance room is being returned to its original design from the 1920s. Some of the items in the space will include a fireplace, armchairs, and a library area—replicating the historic look and feel. The original design of this room intentionally mimicked the look of a parlor in the attempt to create a welcoming space for grieving mothers, widows, and families.

Off this entrance room there will be a campaign gallery and a commemorative gallery. These galleries will include exhibits that 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 as part of the American forces during the war. 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.

The campaign gallery will include a battlefield experience film, showing some of the challenges and horrors men faced in World War I. While the commemorative gallery connotes reflection, giving the visitor the opportunity to take in the expanse of the cemetery via the original windows, while learning about the individual's buried or memorialized there.

The inside renovation work is nearly complete, and the exhibits will be installed within the next few months. On the outside of the building, doors and shutters have been replaced to replicate the look from the 1920s. Other updates include a new parking area, and the addition of a small lift to ensure people with mobility impairments have no problems accessing the new visitor center.

This renovated 1,600-square-foot space is expected to reopen in late 2016.