Over Here, Over There: Texas and the Great War

Over a century ago, on November 11, 1918, the guns fell silent across the battlefields of Europe, bringing an end to the fighting in World War I. Originally commemorated as Armistice Day, the anniversary eventually became Veterans Day, and now honors all Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Although the Great War was fought an ocean away, its impact was felt across Texas. Nearly 200,000 Texans answered the call to serve overseas, while at home military training camps, aviation fields, and wartime industries transformed communities across the state. Today, traces of that remarkable chapter in history can still be found in some surprising places. This Veterans Day, discover some of the Texas sites and stories that connect us to the Great War.

Pictured: A World War I aviator readies his plane for take off.

Credit: THC

Did You Know?

Q: How many Texans served in the military during WW I?

A: 198,000

Q: How many Texas service members died?

A: 5,000+

Q: How many Texas women served in uniform?

A: 400+

Q: During what year was the Armistice signed on November 11?

A: 1918

From Cowboys to Combat Pilots: Texas Prepares for War

While there were already Texans serving in the military and in the Texas National Guard, America’s entry into WWI created the need for a rapid mobilization of troops. Many of these troops were conscripted, or drafted, into service because of the Selective Service Act which became law in 1917. Known as “citizen soldiers”, these troops were mostly destined to fight on the Western Front.

To help the mobilization effort, Texas became an enormous military training ground for soldiers and pilots. In Fort Worth, newly built airfields trained American, Canadian, and British pilots for combat. The Fort Worth Aviation Museum provides a thrilling and immersive experience for visitors with robust exhibits on the history of North Texas aviation and a substantial collection of operational aircraft.

In Dallas, visitors can see an extensive collection of aviation history at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, with an emphasis on the important role of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Included in their collection is a beautifully restored Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” that was used at Love Field in 1918.

Down in San Antonio, visitors should also plan to stop by the Texas Air Museum at Stinson Field. There you will see a large collection of aircraft and displays about WWI and the field’s namesake – Katherine Stinson – one of the great pioneers in aviation history.

A bright yellow vintage biplane marked "4072" hangs proudly from the ceiling in an impressive aviation museum display.

Pictured: The restored Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas

Credit: THC

Friendly nurses and boys in scout uniforms cheerfully collecting donations on a sunny street, with a bright red cross banner.

Nurses and boy scouts collect donations for the Red Cross during WWI

Credit: THC

The War at Home: How World War I Changed Everyday Life

Not every Texan who contributed to the Great War wore a uniform. Across the state, families planted Victory Gardens, conserved food, purchased Liberty Bonds, and volunteered with the Red Cross. Women stepped into jobs traditionally held by men, which strengthened the movement for voting rights. But the war also exposed deep divisions at home. African American soldiers faced segregation and racial violence, and German Texans encountered suspicion and hostility because of their heritage. From historic neighborhoods to museums and former military camps, Texas still holds reminders of how the war changed everyday life far beyond the battlefield.

At the Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site in Bonham, visitors can learn about Sam Bell Maxey Long, who lived in the house during WWI. He chaired the local American Red Cross division and helped raise money for the war effort. The site offers a personal connection to the fundraising, volunteerism, and community organizing that supported soldiers overseas.

At Memorial Park in Houston – the former site of Camp Logan – experience a powerful example of how Jim Crow segregation and racial violence affected Black servicemen. The 1917 Houston Riot followed escalating mistreatment of African American soldiers by local police and civilians. A historical marker helps connect today's park with this difficult history.

During the war, German language, customs, and cultural identities came under attack. Even San Antonio's King William Street was temporarily renamed Pershing Avenue. Visitors can explore the historic German neighborhood while learning how international conflict affected immigrant communities at home.

Pictured: Sam Bell Maxey State Historic Site exterior

Credit: Patrick Hughey-Texas Historical Commission

Beyond the Battlefield: Three Texas Stories Worth Discovering

Not every World War I story unfolded in the trenches of Europe. Across Texas, there were pioneering aviators, decorated soldiers, and African American servicemen who left legacies that visitors can still explore today.

Katherine Stinson: Breaking Barriers in the Sky
Already a celebrated aviator when America entered World War I, Katherine Stinson volunteered to fly for the military but was turned away because she was a woman. Instead, she raised funds for the Red Cross through exhibition flights and later served as an ambulance driver in France. Her family's San Antonio flying school also trained wartime pilots. Discover the Stinson family's remarkable aviation legacy at the Texas Air Museum at historic Stinson Field in San Antonio.

Marcelino Serna: An Unlikely War Hero
Born in Mexico, Marcelino Serna volunteered for the U.S. Army despite being exempt from military service. During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, his extraordinary courage led to the capture of 24 German soldiers, earning him the Distinguished Service Cross and other decorations. One of Texas's most decorated World War I veterans, Serna is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, where visitors can pay tribute to his service.

A black and white photo of a young woman posing with the propeller of her biplane in roughly 1915-1920

Pictured: Katherine Stinson poses with her biplane (circa 1915-1920)

Credit: Library of Congress

The Buffalo Soldiers: Courage, Service, and a Fight for Equality
African American soldiers served their country with distinction during World War I, even as they faced segregation and discrimination at home and in the military. Among them were members of the 92nd Infantry Division, nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers, who fought in France. In Houston, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum preserves their stories and those of generations of Black military servicemen and women. Housed in the historic Houston Light Guard Armory, the museum features military artifacts, photographs, uniforms, and exhibits exploring African American military service from the Revolutionary War to the present, including the experiences of Black soldiers during the Great War. The museum is temporarily closed for renovations, but add this one to your travel bucket list for another time.

Impressive metal ship propeller sculpture showcased on a sturdy concrete base, beautifully framed by a vibrant circular flower bed.

A propeller from the RMS Lusitania is on display at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas

Credit: THC

Unexpected Places to Discover WWI History

World War I history sometimes turns up in the most surprising places.

The SS Selma was built from concrete because wartime steel shortages forced shipbuilders to experiment with unusual materials. Launched on the very day the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, the ship never saw wartime service. After suffering damage, it was deliberately sunk in Galveston Bay in 1922. Its remains are visible today from Seawolf Park and the Bolivar ferry. Need to know more? Listen to a podcast from Galveston Unscripted about this "concrete ghost".

In Dallas, visitors to the Hilton Anatole hotel's sculpture garden can discover a massive, 17-ton bronze propeller from the RMS Lusitania. The British ocean liner was sunk by a German submarine in 1915, killing nearly 1,200 people and helping push America toward war.

Remembering the Great War

More than a century later, the legacy of World War I lives on in Texas – in historic airfields, military museums, and hometown memorials. Each place tells a story of service, sacrifice, innovation, and a state forever changed by war. This Veterans Day, go beyond remembrance and experience that history for yourself. Explore our map of World War I heritage sites, choose a destination, and hit the road to discover the places where Texas's Great War stories leave their mark.

Check out our map below to see where you can experience WWI in Texas for yourself. And if you still want more information, then take a look at our mobile tour, "World War I: Texas and the Great War".