Vietnam: At War and At Home

The Vietnam War is a complex conflict that, five decades later, can divide us or offer lessons of reconciliation.

In Vietnam: At War and At Home at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, the story of the war’s origins, execution, conclusion and legacy are presented in engaging, accessible and evocative ways. The exhibit presents a diverse and holistic snapshot of the turbulent times in Vietnam, in the U.S. and in the St. Louis region.

Visitors can learn about the military experience of the hundreds of thousands of members of the United States Armed Forces who were deployed around the globe as well as those who served closer to home. The concerns and actions of those who opposed the war are explored with an emphasis on what was happening locally. And the process and consequences of the draft and the legacy of refugees who fled a war zone and settled in our community are also profiled.

This exhibition sheds light, encourages discussion and sparks discoveries about an increasingly unpopular war and the journey of return and recovery for the men and women who fought it. Through authentic objects, arresting images, engaging film, meaningful music, powerful prose and first-hand accounts, visitors gain new insights into one of America’s most challenging eras.