Farms, Factories, and the Frontlines: Exploring Shenandoah County's Role in WWI and WWII

From 1917-1918 and again from 1941-1945 the United States was involved in two catastrophic World Wars. These conflicts touched the lives of almost everyone in the nation at that time. 

The Shenandoah County Library is happy to partner with Shenandoah County, the Shenandoah County Historical Society, other local historic organizations, and the state of Virginia's WWI and WWII Commission to commemorate the 100th anniversary of WWI and the 75th anniversary of WWII between 2016 and 2020. Our efforts, and statewide initiatives, are designed to:

• Honor our veterans
• Inspire a desire to learn more about the role our communities played in World War I and World War II
• Connect historic sites with visitors interested in these conflicts
• Preserve the history of these wars

Read below to learn about upcoming events, our county museum trail, and much more. 

Upcoming Events

Click here to register for this event or call (540)984-8200

To register to attend the Richmond event in person, click here

To view the event schedule click here. We recommend all veterans arrive by 9:15AM at the latest. 

Shenandoah County Heritage Day: April 8, 2017

In honor of the 100th anniversary of World War One, Shenandoah County Heritage Day will commemorate the local community's role in that conflict. Held from 11:00AM-3:00PM at the Historic Courthouse in Woodstock, this event will feature exhibits from local museums, vintage music, reenactors, and displays from families and other organizations. Be sure to stay tuned for more information!

This event is sponsored by the Shenandoah County Historical Society and the Shenandoah County Library with support from the Shenandoah County Tourism Council and Woodstock Enhancement Committee. 

Historic Resources

The Truban Archives at the Shenandoah County Library is the area's primary repository of documents and photographs related to the World Wars. As part of this commemoration we have launched a major effort to collect materials related to the conflicts and to provide access to these online through our digital archives. You can see our online WWI and WWII collections here. Anyone willing to any physical items related to these conflicts, or to have them scanned and returned, should contact the archives at (540)984-8200 or email our archivist at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

WWI/WWII Museum Trail

The following local museums and historic sites will have displays related to World War I and World War II throughout the commemoration period. 

• Strasburg Museum, 440 E King St, Strasburg, VA
• Edinburg Mill, 214 S. Main St., Edinburg VA
• Mt. Jackson Museum, 5901 Main St, Mt Jackson, VA
• Fort Valley Museum, 8631 Fort Valley Road, Fort Valley VA

Participating Organizations