Heritage Cities Stories

During World War II, more than 100,000 American women served their country as members of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps. The program averted a shortage of nurses. Many participants saw it as a chance to serve their country while earning valuable career training.

Coffee was rationed from November 1942 to July 1943. There were bumper crops of coffee in Central and South America at the start of the war. But U-boat attacks on cargo ships and the diversion of cargo capacity for the war meant that a lot of it wasn’t making it to the US. The coffee that did arrive – including instant coffee -- was prioritized for the military.

During World War II, many new job opportunities opened to people with disabilities. To fill vacancies left by servicemen, the federal government looked to adults who were exempt from or deemed unfit for military service, including disabled people. Vocational rehabilitation programs played a significant role in the recruitment, placement, and training of disabled workers. Administrators used promotional materials to counter the idea that disabled workers were less efficient.

Food rationing affected every American every day on the World War II home front. Several factors influenced rationing, including supply and demand issues, military needs, and the economy.

During WWII, rationing was one way that the government offset shortages in needed war materials. Another was a program encouraging companies and citizens to collect and contribute them. As a way of making the program relevant and that individuals could make an important contribution, promotions spelled out how much of each material went into a wartime product. These programs provided needed materials for the war effort, but also gave civilians meaningful ways to contribute.

Meat was on the ration list from March 1943 through November 1945. Meat was rationed by the type of meat, the cut, and by weight (but not the quality), with points assessed by the pound. Recipes abounded for how to stretch meat ration points including soups, stews, and casseroles. There was also a campaign promoting organ meats, rebranded as “variety meat." Americans, however, loved their meat and some looked to a thriving black market to get it.

The science of nutrition that we take for granted today was in its infancy when World War II began. The US government was very worried about nutrition -- in the military and among civilians. Nutrition and food became linked with the future of America and of democracy itself.

This article highlights a few of the many job opportunities that opened to disabled workers during World War II.

World War II transformed Evansville. Located just north of the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana, Evansville’s inland location was perfect for large-scale defense production. The city’s factories received military contracts and converted to wartime production, drawing federal funding and workers into the city. New job opportunities also opened for women and African Americans. This article explores some of the many places and stories associated with WWII history in Evansville

The city of Wilmington, North Carolina is a key place in the country's World War II history. This article showcases three places that bring that rich heritage to life. They tell stories of the African American military experience, women defense volunteers, and German POW camps in the heart of American cities.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front with Los Alamos County, New Mexico designated as an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains photographs, a newspaper article, and two poems to compare. Los Alamos County was a site of development and final testing for the atomic bomb for the Manhattan Project. Selected resources contribute to learners’ understandings of multiple perspectives of the use and impact of the atomic bomb.

This lesson is part of a series about the World War II home front, with Tri-Cities, Washington, an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains photographs, one background reading, and two primary source interviews to contribute to learners’ understandings of the contributions of African Americans in the Tri-Cities and the wrongful discrimination against those that lived and worked there. Many moved to there for employment in war jobs like the Manhattan Project.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Pensacola and Escambia County, Florida, an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains readings and photos to contribute to learners’ understandings about the Armed Forces presence there. The lesson contains material about the contributions of, and challenges faced by, African American and women service members. An extension includes a resource on an Asian American WAVE.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about Evansville, Indiana designated as an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains photographs and readings to contribute to understandings about the experiences and contributions of African Americans on the home front in Evansville. They contributed to the Allied defense efforts. The lesson also examines discrimination faced and the impacts of this on labor movements. Additional readings on a strike in the extension.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Paterson, New Jersey, an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson includes readings helping students understand the challenges African Americans in Paterson encountered on the home front, as well as some of their contributions. The lesson examines challenges at the vocational school, acknowledgement of local African American service members, and tolerance talks among faith leaders.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains photographs, a background reading, and newspaper excerpts to contribute to learners’ understandings about the experiences and contributions of African Americans on the home front in Pittsburgh. It examines discrimination faced and the impacts of the Double V campaign. Extensions offer documentaries and readings.

This lesson plan explores the history of African American life in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a major site of the Manhattan Project. It is part of a series about Oak Ridge, designated an American World War II Heritage City in 2022 by the Secretary of the Interior.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Wichita, Kansas, an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains readings and photos to contribute to learners’ understandings about Wichita’s contributions to aviation wartime production. The lesson contains a reading to learn about the milestones of production of the B-29 Superfortress, and two readings to consider the importance of the role of women in the local industries.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the WWII home front, focused on Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio as an American World War II Heritage City. During the war many of the local manufacturers turned to necessary war production, and the local military bases expanded, particularly due to an expanding US presence in the air. The lesson contains photographs and readings to contribute to learners’ understandings of local advancements in aviation and defense industry.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Paterson, New Jersey an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains readings and photos about how youth volunteered and contributed to home front war efforts. This included participation in the Junior Red Cross, collecting and making items for soldiers or humanitarian efforts, supporting material drives, and helping raise money in campaigns, such as for the United Jewish Appeal.