In February, St. Simons Island’s World War II Home Front Museum was announced as one of ten sites across the state that make up the new World War II Heritage Trail. The staff of these sites are excited about this partnership to bring a new experience to visitors, families, and groups. At the sites, visitors can learn more about Georgia’s impressive legacy of inspiring wartime stories. Southern states were critical to the war effort during World War II (1941-1945), and none more so than Georgia. Over 300,000 Georgians served in the military and thousands of civilians worked in rapidly expanding defense industries.
When the World War II Home Front Museum opened in 2018, Coastal Georgia Historical Society Executive Director Sherri Jones teamed up with Scott Loehr, President of the Mighty Eighth Museum in Savannah to reach out to other WWII sites across the state. “The response that we received was overwhelmingly positive,” says Jones. “Within a year we had established a close working relationship. We were united by our passion for WWII history and our eagerness to make Georgia’s rich heritage more accessible to all.”
WWII Heritage Trail
The Heritage Trail is one of only four World War II Trails in the nation, and will be promoted domestically and internationally by Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through their website ExploreGeorgia.org, media outreach and sales efforts. Georgia residents and leisure visitors are encouraged to visit the collection to learn more about the state’s involvement in the war, both at home and abroad. Scott McQuade, President of the Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau is excited to support this new experience that will appeal to visitors seeking drivable destinations and meaningful travel. McQuade said, “The challenges of 2020 caused many travelers to rethink how and where to travel. Road trips have emerged as a relatively safe way to explore, and many are seeking travel with a purpose.”
Trail visitors can take flight in a World War II airplane, build a Liberty ship, explore a pilot training base, march in the boots of the Band of Brothers, and hear personal stories of courage, character, and patriotism displayed by the men and women involved. Suggested routes for North Georgia, Middle Georgia, and the Coast make it easy for visitors to experience two or three locations over a weekend. A Trail “passport” gives visitors the opportunity to track their progress along the route, debrief their visits, and receive a confirmation stamp with the “V for Victory!” Learn more about the Georgia World War II Heritage Trail by visiting georgiawwiitrail.org.
