Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Great War, the Exhibit Marks U.S. Efforts to Support American Troops in France

Minneapolis (March 27, 2018) – Minneapolis and representatives from Tours, France, a Minneapolis Sister City, are proud to present “The Americans in Tours: 1917-1919.” Thousands of Americans, including Minnesotans, were stationed in Tours, France, and the exhibit features historical photographs and documents marking the arrival of the Americans in Tours, as well as their lives and work. The exhibit will be on display April 3 through May 30, at the Hennepin Gallery in the lower level of the Hennepin County Government Center.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the “Great War,” this special exhibit recalls a unique time in history when U.S. service members served in the Services of Supply (SOS) and the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). Tours, France, served as headquarters for the SOS. The efforts of Americans in Tours were critical for the success of U.S. soldiers on the battlefield and also laid the groundwork for a lasting connection between the U.S. and France – one that lives today through the Sister City relationship.

Minneapolis and Tours have been connected through the Sister Cities program since 1991. Tours is one of 12 Minneapolis Sister Cities. The program started in 1961 with the signing of the first Sister Cities agreement with Santiago, Chile, with the intent of fostering people-to-people citizen diplomacy. The program, managed by Meet Minneapolis, also includes Cuernavaca, Mexico; Eldoret, Kenya; Harbin, China; Ibaraki City, Japan; Kuopio, Finland; Novosibirsk, Russia; Winnipeg, Canada; Uppsala, Sweden; Najaf, Iraq; and Bosaso, Somalia.

Exhibit Details:

· The exhibit is open to the public and runs April 3 – May 30

· Hennepin Gallery in the lower level of the Hennepin County Government Center

· Exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the A-level

For more information about the Meet Minneapolis Sister Cities program, please go here and here.

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