Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Source |
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum |
Iowa History Era Tag |
Prosperity to the Depression (1897-1939) |
Chronological Tag |
The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930) |
Catalog Number |
2018.043.002 |
Credit line |
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum - Johnston, Iowa |
Description |
This photograph shows a soldier trained at Camp Dodge near Johnston, Iowa, wearing his Army uniform and holding a rifle. After the United States entered World War I in 1917, Camp Dodge played a significant role in the expansion of the United States military. Between September 5, 1917 and December 15, 1918, 111,462 recruits, including 37,111 Iowans, trained for service at Camp Dodge. The camp contained 1,409 buildings, twenty miles of streets, 8,000 horses and mules, a power plant, a hospital, and a peak garrison of 46,491 soldiers in July 1918. After the war ended, Camp Dodge became a demobilization center, and over 208,000 soldiers were discharged at the camp. Content can be used with the following standards: 8th grade SS 8.25 Iowa Government and SS-US 9-12.23 Iowans Influence US History in a lesson on Iowa military and training during WWI. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item regarding copyright restrictions. |
Additional Research & Sources |
Camp Dodge was established in 1909 under Major General Grenville M. Dodge from Council Bluffs, Iowa who had served as Iowa's strongest commader during the Civil War. On June 15, 1917, the camp was chosen by the US Army Selectional Board as one of 16 regional training camps for the U.S. Army. The camp began to train soldiers from Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. From July to November 1917, 30 barracks (each held 150 men) were constructed including a mess hall, assembly hall, post office, two headquarters buildings, an auditorium, a hospital, three fire station, libraries and eight YWCA halls. After the war, Camp Dodge only housed Iowa National Guard soldiers. In 1921, the majority of the camp was sold to the Northwest Lumber and Wrecking Company in Minneapolis. The company bought 1,200 buildings for $251,000 and seven miles of the camp was demolished. Since the war, the Camp has served as the Iowa National Guard headquarters and in the 1990s, the addition of the United States Army's National Mainetenance Training Center was built to continue the training of state soldiers. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Object is related to the following library resources, which can be found by searching the catalog number in the advanced search section: Catalog #: 2018.045.051- Des Moines, Together with the History of Polk County 2018.045.072- The Story of Iowa: A Children's History 2018.045.075- One Hundred Topics in Iowa History 2018.045.083- A History of the People of Iowa 2018.045.098- Centennial History of Polk County, Iowa 2018.045.136- Camp Dodge |
County Tag |
Polk |
Relation |
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Multimedia Links |
Click here to view/hear the file. |
Search Terms |
The Military in Iowa War & Conflict WW1 Camp Dodge World War I Military uniforms |
Legal Status |
Ownership of this resource is held by the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum and has been provided here for educational purposes only, specifically for use in the Iowa Museum Association's "Teaching Iowa History" project. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission from the Rights Holder. For information on U.S. and International copyright laws, consult an attorney. |
