WALLA WALLA — Fort Walla Walla Museum has opened a new exhibit to coincide with 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

“Capturing the Pacific” will focus on the Pacific Theater of Operations and Walla Walla’s connection to the war.

According to a press release, 80 years is significant for historians because it marks a point where most people who have first-hand accounts of an event have passed.

The Pacific Theater saw the creation of vast technological advancement throughout all arenas, making the battles and skirmishes accomplished during World War II possible. At the end of the war, the advancements stuck around, such as the transformation of Walla Walla’s airport.

Along with the conduct of individual battles, documentation of the war and the subsequent dissemination of information would not have been possible without the development of new camera technology. This technology was quickly utilized by the newly formed Army Pictorial Service and helped to make World War II the most visually documented event during its time.

Those on the front lines bore witness to the changes in technology just as readily. Soldiers, both American and otherwise, received pamphlets, cards and other paper media.

Specializing in a new field of science focused on the mind and human behavior, the American Psychological Warfare Branch operated in the Pacific. Documents were printed and distributed to both American and Japanese soldiers, the images and text were carefully worded to be compelling to its audience. These pieces of paper, cheekily called “paper bullets,” were designed to do damage with a different approach to warfare and used as part of larger projects, which in the Pacific Theater meant getting Japanese soldiers to consider surrender, according to the press release.

The museum’s exhibit will also display some of the weapons and interesting historical items present in the Pacific theater, such as Japanese pesos and weapons. These artifacts were removed from Japanese soldiers and brought back to Walla Walla.

Information

The museum, 755 NE Myra Road in Walla Walla, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the winter. Admission rates can be found at fwwm.org.

For updates, check the museum’s social media pages or call 503-252-7703.