Press Release
February 25, 2026
Contact: Madison Flores
Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 580-336-2405
[email protected]
cherokee-strip-museum.org
New Poster Exhibit on World War I Opens March 3 at Cherokee Strip Museum in Perry
PERRY, Okla. — On Tuesday, March 3, the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School will open a Smithsonian poster exhibition, “World War I: Lessons and Legacies,” in the Jirous Gallery Room.
The exhibit explores “the war to end all wars” and its lasting impact and far-reaching influence on American life. Sparked by the assassination of one man, the war eventually included the forces of the world’s major industrial powers (over 18 countries) and ended with millions dead. Beyond the countries involved and people affected, World War I gave rise to significant and enduring changes in America. Wartime technologies and medical advances resulted in new industries and novel ways to fight disease and treat disability. The roles that women and minorities played in the war led to the right to vote for women and to a heightened awareness of civil rights issues throughout society.
From the Great Migration to the 1918 flu pandemic and from the unionization movement to women’s suffrage, World War I led to pivotal changes in America’s culture, technology, economy and role in the world. It redefined how we saw ourselves as Americans, and its legacy continues to this day.
“World War I: Lessons and Legacies” is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Museum of American History, in cooperation with the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. It is funded in part by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee.
The Cherokee Strip Museum is located at 2617 W. Fir St. in Perry. For more information about activities and exhibits at the museum, please call 580-336-2405.
The Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School is an affiliate of the Oklahoma Historical Society, operated in partnership with the Cherokee Strip Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
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Editor’s Note: Photos of the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School are available upon request.
