Museum preparing WWI exhibit

NEW ULM — There are Civil War Buffs and there are World War II experts, but few people know much about the First World War or New Ulm’s unique history with the war.

The Brown County Historical Society and Museum has decided to shine a light on this forgotten past with a new exhibit “Loyalty and Dissent-Brown County and World War I.” Uniform 585x840

“WWI was an incredible time of dissent in New Ulm,” Historian Dan Hoisington said. “With New Ulm being so German it played such a different role in the war than other cities.”

The United States did not enter WWI until April of 1917. Before that time America attempted to stay neutral, but many Brown County residents still felt loyal to the Fatherland. The declaration of war meant German-Americans living in Brown County might be sent overseas to fight family and friends. Many chose to protest the war.