Gallery L – The Unforgettable 1940s

What would it be like to only drive 40 miles per hour on every highway in the nation? What if you could only buy a couple gallons of milk a week or two pair of shoes per year? Suppose you could only drive a small number of miles in your car each week? How would your life be different?

The exhibit asks us to imagine these questions and more as we learn what like was like to live during World War II in South Dakota. Every American was expected to do their part for the War effort which included rationing, buying war bonds and planting a victory garden. South Dakotans were involved on many levels.

The display includes a number of windows which illustrate different aspects of World War II such as how the war effort affected the average American and how many people were involved in the military in Brown County and SD.  Artifacts like a Mother’s Flag, army dog tags, sand from Iwo Jima, rationing stamps, war bonds, pictures and letters from local servicemen, newspapers and authentic World War II posters complete the windows.

A living-room display with a serviceman home from the army on leave and two ladies ready for a night of dancing, along with big band music, will set the scene for the 1940s. Some catchy slang terms popular in the ‘40s and other trends and fads will accompany the living-room scene. After the Depression of the 1930s, the decade was filled with progress in technology, manufacturing and social roles of men and women. A booklet will be provided to record any visitors who wish to share their stories or comments about what they remember of the 1940s.

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