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RALEIGH, N.C. — On Friday, July 27, the North Carolina Museum of History will unveil its newest exhibit, A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans. This collection of intriguing images, taken by North Carolina soldiers, explores the human elements and experiences of the Vietnam War; each snapshot is enhanced by commentary from veterans relaying what a photo means to them.

The Vietnam War took place literally half a world away from the United States; life for the soldiers was an unknown to most Americans in the 1960s and 1970s. Many only knew the war from images on TV—some of which were quite graphic.

But what did the war look like to the troops on the ground? Some recorded the horrors of war; others focused less on the war and more on the experience — their friendships, the Vietnamese people, the countryside, the longing for home.

A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans lets visitors step into the memories of Vietnam veterans with this collection of snapshots, taken by North Carolina soldiers and assembled by Winston-Salem photographer Martin Tucker.

“Vietnam was a complex conflict, ushering in a new type of warfare: a war without borders,” said Charlie Knight, military curator at the North Carolina Museum of History. “When Martin Tucker originally collected these images and the stories that go with them, he provided a glimpse into a very turbulent time period in U.S. history. The images in 1000 Words convey what everyday life was like for those in uniform in Vietnam, and we hope that visitors will gain a greater understanding of this war 50 years ago.”

According to Tucker, “The photographs paint as broad a picture as possible ... of what 18- to 20-year-old young men experienced in their year away from home (in addition to combat) — and how they chose to document it. They’re showing what they couldn’t say.”

The traveling exhibit will be on display in the museum lobby through Feb. 24, 2019. Corresponding educational programming will run throughout 2018, and will feature a Curator’s Tour with Martin Tucker, as well as a Veteran’s Day Military History Tour.

About the NC Museum of History:
The NC Museum of History, a Smithsonian affiliate, is located at 5 E. Edenton Street in downtown Raleigh. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The museum collects and preserves artifacts of North Carolina history and educates the public on the history of the state and the nation through exhibits and educational programs. Each year more than 400,000 people visit the museum to see some of the 150,000 artifacts in the museum collection. The Museum of History, within the Division of State History Museums, is part of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. ncmuseumofhistory.org 

About the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources:
The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the NC Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the NC Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call 919-807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.

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CONTACT:

Marcie Gordon
919-807-7995
marcie.gordon@ncdcr.gov

AK Brinson
919-807-7943
ak.brinson@ncdcr.gov