Spruce, Foxglove, & Motorships:
Grays Harbor and the Great War

To mark the close of World War I in 1919, we produced an exhibit on Grays Harbor's historic role in the war. It featured artifacts and photos from our collection plus more drawn from the Washington State Historical Society. A part now remains on permanent display above our entry way.

A century ago Grays Harbor was abuzz with local activities supporting the Great War. The display covers mobilization of our "Home Guard," Red Cross efforts to send clothing and bandages to our soldiers in France, and local harvesting of foxglove for use in wound and burn medicine.

Showcased even more extensively are local efforts at Harbor shipyards to produce wooden "Liberty Ships" as well as efforts of our famed Spruce Division "Soldier-Loggers" to harvest needed aircraft-grade Sitka spruce. These were the men first to drive logging trucks on Grays Harbor roads.

Appreciate still Grays Harbor's efforts to "Make Our World Safe for Democracy."