Remembering Vietnam

This exhibition presents both iconic and recently discovered National Archives records related to 12 critical episodes in the Vietnam War. They trace the policies and decisions made by the architects of the conflict and help untangle why the United States became involved in Vietnam, why it went on so long, and why it was so divisive for American society.

It is important to answer these questions. The sacrifices made by veterans and their families, the magnitude of death and destruction, and the war’s lasting effects require no less. Yet many only know the war through a handful of slogans, lyrics, and film scenes. “Remembering Vietnam” is a resource for refreshing our collective memory. Its collection of evidence provides an opportunity for new insight and greater understanding of one of the most consequential wars in American history.

See the documents and photos featured in the exhibit:

Related Online Resources:

• Download the exhibition Brochure. Use this guide to help you keep track of the architects, fighting forces, and battle sites of the Vietnam War.
• Remembering Vietnam-related Events at the National Archives
• Exhibition Press Release
• Read About the Exhibition in Prologue Magazine
• Find primary sources and activities for teaching about the Vietnam War on DocsTeach
• Explore more records, information, and resources at the Vietnam War Research Portal

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A Traveling Exhibit from the National Archives: 

Picturing Nam: U.S. Military Photography of the Vietnam War

Photographs are a powerful part of how we remember the Vietnam War. The most iconic photographs of the war were taken by civilian photojournalists working for newspapers, magazines, or the wire services. But there were also military photographers who served in Vietnam. These service members shot hundreds of thousands of photographs that documented American Armed Forces activities. Their assignments sent them everywhere—the jungles and swamps, forward bases, hospital ships, rivers, and air bases—and covered every aspect of the conflict. Most of these photographs have rarely been seen, but they are now accessible through our National Archives. These unforgettable images give us an intimate and ground up view of the war and those who fought it.

See the photos featured in the traveling exhibit:

Exhibition Travel Dates and Locations:

• June 16–October 20, 2018 at the Upcountry History Museum, Greenville, SC
• November 10, 2018-January 7, 2019 at the West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen, LA
• January 24-March 31, 2019 at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, Mt. Pleasant, SC
• September 1-October 20, 2019 at the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum, Temple, TX

This exhibition is no longer traveling.

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