UNSEEN RELICS at the National WWI Museum!!! | History Traveler Episode 218

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!

[@steveshipkie1624]

I have already been to that there watching you

[@pim1234]

done

[@brentsauer]

Some amazing artifacts. The scrap book and the Canadian officers book are an incredible glimpse at the individual level of such a horrific event. Thank you for giving us that glimpse into history.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I was amazed.

[@perplane]

This was an amazing wake-up call to those that have long forgotten WW-1 and have no idea just how horrific trench warfare was. Sadly enough, I didn't even know this museum existed so shame on me. Thank you for bringing forth this great content. I just wish the younger generation would take the time to learn about the sacrifices that were made to secure our freedoms. The current Woke movement wants to erase history as is was but everyone needs to know how we got to where we are today. My two cents worth. Thank you.

[@JohnWilson-ys5tc]

I live just a few short miles from the liberty memorial/ ww1 museum. this place gives me chills everytime I go there. it's a wonderful place to learn the human element to this particular war. I never knew they had so many artifacts in their collection. Thank you for doing this.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty amazing.

[@earthmother1917]

It breaks my heart as I walk in. We forget what they went through and how many of our people died

[@shanechaffey9050]

That you have access to the back rooms tells me that you and your series are held in high esteem . Congratulations

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@dconn74]

No JD, you can't have her job! You're too valuable doing what you're doing. So many people are learning so much because of what you do. Keep up the great work, please.

[@johnblessing2642]

Another fantastic episode JD. This is one of the best overall museums in the country, but I think a bit unknown to the general public. I’ve been there three times in the last 10 years and still don’t think I’ve seen it all. Thanks for for your content from this museum. It is definitely worth going out of your way to visit!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Love that museum. One of my favorites.

[@helenbricka4614]

I was fascinated with the helmet and bugle featured first. In 1918, before leaving for France, the American buffalo was selected as the divisional insignia due to the "Buffalo Soldiers" nickname, given to African-American cavalrymen in the 19th century by Native Americans. To see that the soldier took time to hand paint the insignia on the helmet leaves me in awe of this gentleman who served as to his personal story. The memories of WWI has seemed to fade away in history due to the passage of time. Thank you for the behind the scenes glimpse into WWI and those who served.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@MjrCarnyx]

Getting that backstage access in a museum of your taste is just one of the best things in the world. I was lucky to experience it once at the Airborne museum in Oosterbeek (Market Garden), it is - leaving my family out of equation - still the best day of my life. Getting access to so much history, it's ridiculous. That WW1 scrapbook absolutely blew me away, that is one of the most awesome items I have seen in a long long while. Thanks so so much for taking us along :) !!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, that scrapbook was something else. Would love to see a translated version.

[@mlbs4803]

Thank you for featuring this museum. it is one of the finest I have ever seen and certainly an equal to the Smithsonian museums. I visited several years ago. As we walked closer to the entrance, I saw the two rather amorphous statues above the doors. I couldn't figure what they were at first, but suddenly they clicked and I got chills. I felt those chills again watching this video. They are two Assyrian winged sphynxes, their wings covering their faces. The one facing east covers its eyes against the horrors of the past. The one facing west covers its eyes because the future is unknown. I had 2 paternal uncles, both railroad engineers, who served in WW1 and survived. One spent the war shoeing mules in Arizona, presumably because he had once seen a mule. The other was trained as a machine gunner and sent to France. He was days away from being sent to the front, where the average lifespan of a machine gun unit was 2 weeks, when they discovered he was a railroad engineer. They pulled him out and he spent the rest of the war teaching French engineers how to use those new fangled Westinghouse air brakes. My maternal grandfather's farm in the Ardennes was seized by "les boche" and used as a prisoner of war camp for British soldiers. The Germans were cutting down the Ardennes forest for trench lumber and used the prisoners to run a sawmill in the camp. The prisoners were starving, reduced to eating rats, insects, and earthworms, so grandpere, at great risk, would toss a potato, etc over the fence whenever he could if he was doing fieldwork nearby.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@katiemyers4174]

My dad would've loved seeing this episode, he was an WWI enthusiast. Brought back memories of when I spent a semester cataloging the photo collection at St. Augustine Lighthouse. Learned a lot about the town's WWII Coast Guard activities I never knew.

[@glennfarez6760]

Great work and so proud of those 2 incredible ladies who make history tangible to all of us. Such a treasure and thank you all. SO important.

[@CapCarter838]

This is a great video! I’m a museum collections manager myself so I love behind the scenes of museum collections. It’s great you got to film someone from the registrar department explaining how an object is accessioned into its collection. More of these videos would be cool to see from you especially because you seem truly interested in this topic of collections. Trust me it is a very cool job.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@dustyrusty6840]

Thank you for bringing us into these places and allowing us to see this. And thanks to Eric of the Gettysburg Museum for his knowledge of past wars.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@TheRagratus]

The German scrapbook is full of some amazing art. And to have a personal record of experiences of Verdun and the Somme is priceless.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty amazing.

[@Mist3rData]

This is a great way of showing World War 1. Many documentary's talk about the batles and tactics. But if you truly want to understand a conflict, listen to the stories of those who fought it. Well done!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed.

[@robynw6307]

What an amazing privilege to be permitted into the behind the scenes of this museum. Incredible artifacts that we would not have seen if not for you. Thank you JD.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! May have to try and collaborate with them more in the future.

[@kathyrichardson7568]

JD Great job as usual! Just amazing what you find ! My wife and I appreciate so much being able to see this history ! Love the drawings!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@Wreckdiver59]

It's amazing that some of those items even exist. It's good to hear that they are digitizing what they can so other people can have access to it. I was in Kansas City for a conference a few years ago and I only had one free afternoon that I ended up using to visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum which was walkable from where I was staying. Even though that was very good, I wish I had done a bit more research and visited the WWI Museum instead. Have to put this one on my list.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I’ll be looking forward to them digitizing these artifacts. And I need to get to the Arabia at some point. I’ve heard a lot of good things.

[@earthmother1917]

If you EVER visit Kansas City go to the WWl museum. It is a wonderful experience. I am a 70 year old woman and don't normally care about war machines. This museum will tug at your heart right when you walk in the entrance.

[@denaturner8871]

This video IS about Liberty Memorial/WWI Museum.

[@debcattell7059]

Oh wow JD, this episode was amazing 👍👌 Here in Australia we have the War Memorial in Canberra and just like your museum only a small percentage is on display and they constantly rotate the items. My husband and I really enjoyed this episode and like you we would love the job of looking through and translating those amazing journals and artefacts. We just love your videos, thanks so much for taking us with you 👌😊

[@codybailey855]

I had no idea that there even was a National WW1 Museum! This is awesome! I’m definitely going to be planning a trip up that way! Thank you so much for posting this!

[@lizlittle1641]

This was very interesting. I love the behind the scenes seeing how things work. Thank you for this! Let me add, this is so cool just like you said.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@1corinthians-138]

The scrapbook is amazing. ❤ the drawings. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I could have spent an afternoon looking through that thing.

[@chrisanderson9856]

As a history buff this is amazing! I've been studying WWII however I may be diving into WWI. Awesome video and I can't wait to dive into more of your videos. I could sit for hours and watch these videos!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Appreciate that. Feel free to share it out with a few others. 🙂

[@richardsigman3776]

This “behind the scenes” video was just amazing! We could watch this type of thing all day! Thank you, JD, for bringing it to us! The work you do on this channel is making history come alive again and gives us a greater appreciation for all these men and women went through. We believe if this type of history was taught along with the boring stuff that it would affect the students with a greater impact. Richard and Joy from Northern Indiana

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! May have to try and collaborate with them again in the future.

[@gearylyons717]

What an amazing place, so much to learn. Thank you J.D. for this awesome video. Definitely on my bucket list.. Looking forward to the next video..

[@MrWisconsinLeather]

I’ve been to this museum once, about 8 years ago…a definite must! And what a thrill for you JD to see that soldier’s scrapbook for the first time!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty dang cool.

[@phyllishershkowitz3806]

Thanks for a behind the scene look at a fascinating museum!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@cbow8926]

I love how Canada keeps popping up on your channel. As a military history teacher from Mapleland - I really appreciate it. I hope one day you will cover the Newfoundland disaster at Beaumont Hamel. Thanks for all that you do - my favorite place on YT!

[@BigLisaFan]

While 1 July is a day of celebration in Canada, it is a day of mourning in Newfoundland over the slaughter of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

[@cbow8926]

@@BigLisaFan Growing up in Newfoundland - it was quite a sad day for us!

[@NickC1966]

Been to the museum. Amazing place. The exhibit about the battlefield/ no man’s land is both eerie and serene. The whole museum is just great.

[@GhostofSicklesleg]

Outstanding as usual JD. Thanks for putting another thing on my bucket list! I can’t wait to go.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@ThePissedConsumer]

Astounding video quality! I was able to read a lot of the text from the soldier's journal. First-class video and a tribute to history. I would love to see all those museums. Excellent video! Keep them coming!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@7bootzy]

Stacy is my nerd hero; something all history nerds aspire to!

[@kateclark7250]

This is an incredible place... they have both the "big" perspective and the individual's perspective. Thank you for showing us this. I've put this on my bucket list.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed. It’s an amazing museum.

[@davidolien2828]

Thank you for this behind the scenes visit! Because of you I will fly to KC to visit the museum!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awesome! Be sure to tell them where you heard about them. 🙂

[@playbluesman1]

Amazing content. Excellent job the ladies are doing to preserve history for generations to come.

[@andreasfiege8388]

Loved the newest Episode. The German officers scrap book was fantastic. Never forget that humans did the fighting. Fantastic drawings. Was it not for you, I would've never be able to see it. Many thanks.

[@MrDjmasterp]

I honestly like your approach to history and interesting telling of history.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@chrislinn4486]

Another stellar episode. ...ww1 dosen't get enough exposure...but that is a astounding museum...thanks for show casing it...excellent work.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely going to do some more WWI stuff in the future.

[@1psychofan]

The artwork in that scrapbook, really shows a lot. The darker ones probably illustrate not only life in the trenches but also what mood and mental state the artist was in at the time. This is incredible and I would love to read that journal!!! Oh my goodness what an absolute treasure!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, that thing was something else.

[@1psychofan]

@@TheHistoryUnderground I’m sure! It strikes me as something important for many reasons, art and history, yes…but also medicine and science…perhaps psychiatric professionals can study some of that…gain some insight into PTSD, depression and so on. I don’t know…but that collection looks like it may hold more than historical value! So glad it’s been so well preserved

[@paulbuckles5353]

Great video. I've been to the Archive to do some of my own research. The staff there was very kind and helpful.

[@markpalmer6760]

Nothing like a good museum they do a great job in preserving history, enjoy your videos.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Big fan of this place.

[@kevinhensley4643]

Fantastic as always, even more fascinating being first time ever relics shown.....

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that I could share it!

[@judygrandstrand9784]

The scrapbook is a real treasure! I love the original artwork. I love these museum tours.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, that was something else. Really an amazing piece.

[@bettytordoff8920]

Finally able to catch up to you being in my area of the States - Missouri! Kansas City, to be exact. Thank you for this behind the scenes at the WWI Memorial.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My pleasure!

[@aaron_osborne]

Those postcards are awesome. Even with damage I appreciate the bravery of doing it at all.

[@fumblerooskie]

I finally have a compelling reason to visit KC. Thanks for this.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

No problem!

[@erickstiner1668]

Just when I thought history couldn’t get any cooler. You show us the behind the museum scene. Absolutely fascinating JD.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@jetsons101]

JD, I bet that Lieutenant Baum would be happy that his scrapbook was preserved over all these years and will be put online for the world to share. Stacy and Tracy look to be top notch curators, would love to spend a week or two there. Thank to JD, his team and the museum staff for putting time into this great watch. Keeping History Alive With The History Underground.

[@davidking6172]

Great episode lots of Museums here in the UK have got basements full of uniforms and gear that they have no room to display. It's a shame when the family donates stuff and it is never shown to the public. But it is hopefully recorded for the next generations to learn from. Thanks JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed.

[@MamaDee_83]

This is amazing! First ever glimpse of a scrapbook created from WWI and all of us who watch your videos are privileged to see it first hand! Incredible video!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@pimhoff]

The German scrap book was amazing. The owner was an incredible artist.

[@cyndiebill6631]

Wow!! So cool seeing the scrap book! Thing like this makes everything so real. Thank you again for the behind the scenes tour. 👍😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I was really glad that they took the time with me.

[@ducomaritiem7160]

Amazing! I hope I can view that cavalry officer's scrapbook online soon. Please keep us updated where and when! Besides, I worked at a company that scanned historical items like that, I have put a lot of documents, books and newspapers through that process at Picturae, Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands.

[@chevykasprzyk5188]

This was one of my favorite videos! Hope you get to do this more often!

[@Chris-qw3zt]

New subscriber here, i've been watching loads of your content, great content, keep it up

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

Just wonderful that you were able to get behind the scene access and then share this very small but nonetheless incredible material with your audience, us. These simple things made of paper, yellowed by time, the faded photos may seem very unimportant and not so exciting as say the physical presence of a weapon but remember, these are tangible belongings carried by these men that directly link them to some of histories most bloodiest battles. If we could only hear this man play that bugle, how sweet and inspiring he must have played it and with such vigor and passion. What an incredible thing that would have been to witness and hear.

[@conemadam]

Extraordinary!! Thank you!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 🙂

[@stevenhearnden6103]

My passion is the history of WW1, I'm from 🇬🇧 and have visited many European museums, including 'In Flanders Fields' museum in Ypres. Your 🇺🇸 museum looks up there with the best. 👍

[@chrislarsen2684]

Amazing History - I have to get there to see the WW1 museum...Thank you for sharing...

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

It’s amazing!

[@gordonvpeach2589]

Thank you so very much for this JD!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@GrandmaRose9000]

Wonderful! I love your museum visits.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@keithmitchell6918]

Definitely your happy place. One note, the love that the 1LT Franz Baum (aka the scrap book soldier) had for his horse and the horses of WWI is compelling, poignant, and a reminder of the lesser-mentioned casualties of war.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed. Have to wonder how many horse casualties there were.

[@keithmitchell6918]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Per the Google machine, "Eight million horses, donkeys and mules died in World War 1 (WWI), three-quarters of them from the extreme conditions they worked in." Yikes!

[@reloadncharge9907]

Another amazing episode…..and fun revisiting places I have spent time visiting….Thank you! Andrew

[@pierreaucoin2480]

Considering this trip…. Red Sox play the Royals in August. You have shown us that this place is a must see! Checking flights now! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Well done JD.

[@steveshipkie1624]

Not really studying ww1,these videos are opening mind to things I have never looked at

[@mikeparker3865]

Those aerial photos looked like the surface of the moon. What devastation. I just can't imagine going through that kind of shelling.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Insane.

[@rolo8950]

This channel is the best civil war content I can find anywhere. I'm so happy you guys do this for us. Seriously it's just incredible content. I'm a huge huge huge history geek and even you guys give me information I've never heard before and that's rare for me. Also you are in my home town lol! Kansas City,n

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! So glad that you’re enjoying it.

[@stevemilam1747]

Thanks for another great video JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@jeffreymcneal1507]

Thank you for the clarification of not using gloves. An amazing view of an extraordinary enterprise.

[@synapse2121]

Oh WOW, JD! That is fantastic!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@frenchfan3368]

This was an amazing episode. Although I have visited this museum several times, I didn't realize that so few artifacts were actually displayed in this museum. Viewing the content of these maps and journal reminds me of the 2018 documentary "They Shall Not Grow Old."

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Love that doc!

[@frenchfan3368]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Yes, it's a classic.

[@raeraewells7053]

My favorite so far!! Excellent job!

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Amazing Pieces of history!

[@TravelingToHistory]

Incredible to see how many personal items there are, that have never been exhibited anywhere or are in the databases. Just amazing!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@emilkoch4098]

wow, awesome video!!! I really liked the soldier's sketches of the war. He did a great job telling his story with his artwork. He's literally drawing on location. His compositions were nicely done. Some of those sketches were completed in charcoal by the way.

[@BigLisaFan]

I really enjoy the personal recollections of individual soldiers who shed an insight into their time in history. My wife's grandfather was taken prisoner by the Germans in WW I and he and some others escaped. He wrote an official journal of how it came to be and the escape. I have a copy and it is fascinating reading. I can't wait to see where you are going to take us next.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@cynditermath9118]

Amazing artifacts of the daily life and experience of these men. Wonderful video. Thanks for taking us there.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@Shawnss988]

Another great video, looking forward to meeting you on the 25th.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@MikeyVerhulst]

Holy smokes man, these are some amazing things you showed us. Thanks!!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@camdodge9891]

Thank you amazing video JD and omg that German soldier drawing is incredible and keep up the awesome work JD

[@rodeastell3615]

Great video and very interesting. Thanks for posting.

[@debbiestyer453]

Thank you for sharing the behind the scenes information. The scrap books are phenomenal.

[@davidkimmel4216]

Very interesting video. Please keep sharing your videos

[@anthonydm2947]

What a privilege and honor to be given such access. It’s a great testament to you and your channel.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@birdman5223]

Gr8 stuff JD👏🏼👏🏼

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@fredv7487]

Thanks JD for another great video.

[@wrangler70jkujeep74]

Wow extraordinary collection

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@deadmetal8692]

I agree, that would be an amazing job and so much fun. Respectfully

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I seriously want that job.

[@jamesb7424]

Next time you're out there, head to Hutchinson and visit the Cosmosphere! They have more than 13,000 spaceflight artifacts (including the Apollo 13 command module and Liberty Bell 7) and the largest collection of Russian spaceflight artifacts outside of Russia. Definitely worth a visit.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I’d definitely like to see that!

[@geoffcapp7257]

My wife is distantly related to Thomas Edison. Her great grandfather donated furniture from his family’s homestead in Ontario to the Henry Ford museum in the 1930’s. We asked about where it can be found, and they said it’s buried under stuff in storage! The old homestead is at the museum though! 😎😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Interesting. And yeah, a lot of stuff gets put into storage at museums.

[@homercook1953]

Was amazing to see the scrapbook and the writing and the pictures were amazing keep up the good work J.D

[@robertmoore2049]

Thank you for sharing this with us, JD. Stacie truly has a great job! There’s a tank museum in England and like any museum they can only display so much and there are dozens of armored vehicles - not just tanks - in storage since there isn’t enough room to put them out. Have you been there yet, JD? I haven’t, but I am described to their KZbin channel as I am to yours. God bless…

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

On my list. 🙂

[@robertmoore2049]

I can’t wait until they translate this book and when they do, I hope they will let you know what he recorded, JD. It would be interesting to say the least!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I agree!

[@achimvetter7943]

What a fascinating collection. As a German I was able to read some of the lines and writings in the Album (btw: It says, that the picture with the soldiers in mid air is an underground-mine-explosion) and all I can say is: translate it. He was definitlly a sensitive and educated person and his views on the war are worthwile reading. Thanks for the video.

[@ericdahlstrom1021]

What's amazing,in the 50 years nearly from end of civil war to WW1, it's amazing how much innovation in war,machines,medical procedures,etc. There was.

[@dwightadams3853]

JD, I agree his is a fantastic museum. I donated some artifacts in early 2018 that originally belonged to my grandfather who was in the 332nd Infantry Regiment and the only US fighting force sent to the battlefields of northern Italy against the Austrians.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow!

[@imannonymous7707]

Verdun, the somme and pachendale and mons. Just some of the scariest bloodiest battles. Ever. That paper looks amazing in that scrapbook. Canada has a war museum too. How cool would it be if history traveled here...anyway nice tour

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I’ll have to check that out. Thanks!

[@dovydas4806]

If you are ever going thru pittsburgh you should check out soldiers & sailors memorial hall. I haven't been there for years but I think you would find it fascinating.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻