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Museum prepares for JBLM's 100th anniversary

Restoration and events planned for the 2017

Photo of Camp Lewis during World War I. Photo courtesy of Lewis Army Museum archives

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Erik Flint has been committed to the Lewis Army Museum for the past five years as a volunteer, board member, and now director. With Joint Base Lewis McChord's 100th Anniversary on the horizon, the museum is undergoing a facelift, reopening in time for the centennial events currently being organized.

Shortly after the United States declared war on Germany on April 6th, 1917, construction of Camp Lewis began.  The base was touted as the most cost-effective build out of any Army camp during World War I and was officially named on July 18th, 1917, with the first troops arriving in September of the same year.

Photos of the Red Shield Inn during World War I. Photo courtesy of Lewis Army Museum archives
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"I think that one of the most unique aspects of what was then ‘Camp Lewis' was that it is the only example of civilians getting together and saying that they wanted a permanent military installation in their area," explains Flint.  "The people of Tacoma and Pierce County put together a bond measure which came up for a vote in January of 1917 and actually passed with 86% of the vote in favor of putting Pierce County into debt for $2 million dollars, which was a lot of money in 1917, to purchase 70,000 acres to donate to the federal government with the express purpose of building a military installation."

Flint is proud of the commitment area citizens and local businesses made to the military in 1917: "This was the only place where the citizens expressly said ‘we want a military base' and that's what they did.  And here it has stood for one hundred years."

Camp Lewis Inn music room during WWI. Photo courtesy of Lewis Army Museum archives
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The renovation of the museum will include two new exhibits: the first outlining the history of the area, U.S. Army, and Joint Base Lewis McChord and the second covering the modern battle history of the United States government.

The museum is housed in what was formerly the Red Shield Inn, a hotel built by the Salvation Army in 1919 to house family and friends visiting the camp.  Part of this year's renovation will include restoring the museum's entrance to the original hotel lobby, inviting visitors to reminisce about the committed citizens and military servicemembers that made the creation of Camp Lewis possible, 100 years ago.

WWI soldiers train on Camp Lewis. Photo courtesy of Lewis Army Museum archives

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