News Release

National Park Service Announces New American World War II Heritage Cities

A World War II Red Cross canteen for soldiers, sailors, and aviators is seen at Ogden Union Station in Ogden, Utah.

Photo courtesy of the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service

News Release Date: September 17, 2024

Contact: [e-mail]

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service today announced the designation of eight communities across the United States as American World War II Heritage Cities. The recognition honors the contributions of local towns, cities, counties, and their citizens who stepped into the workforce and volunteered to support America's war effort during World War II, which ended this month in 1945. 
 
Today’s newly designated jurisdictions are:  
 

• Calhoun and Ouachita Counties, Arkansas 
• Plymouth Township, Michigan 
• Valley City, North Dakota 
• Municipality of Tinian & Aguiguan, Northern Mariana Islands 
• Ponca City and Kay County, Oklahoma 
• North Kingstown, Rhode Island 
• Sumter City and County, South Carolina 
• Ogden, Utah 

“World War II not only impacted those who went to war, but also those who carried on the life and work of the home front” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “It’s important we remember that cities and towns both big and small made major contributions at home to the war effort, all of which helped Allied forces defeat the Axis powers.” 
 
Only one American World War II Heritage City can be designated in each state or territory. Although the program’s enabling legislation references “cities,” other types of local jurisdictions (counties, towns, townships, etc.) are also eligible for this recognition. The designation is an honorific that recognizes the importance of the U.S. home front during World War II and is just one way to nationally recognize a community as having made significant and important contributions to America's war effort.   
 
World War II permeated every aspect of American life and resulted in a large migration of people within the United States and its territories. Individuals and families relocated to industrial centers for good-paying war jobs and out of a sense of patriotic duty. Many industrial centers became “boom towns," growing at phenomenal rates. Workers from around the nation had to intermingle with each other and overcome differences to meet war demands, forever changing the cultural landscape of the United States.  
 
Contributions to the home front war effort included defense manufacturing (such as ships, aircraft, uniforms, and equipment), production of food and consumer items for military and home consumption, volunteerism, and civil defense preparedness.  
 
The American World War II Heritage Cities Program was established in 2019 to recognize the historic importance of the America’s domestic involvement in World War II and ensure the continued preservation of a defining period in American history. This year’s additions join 30 other localities already recognized by the program. 
 
More information about the nomination process and criteria for designation is available at: https://go.nps.gov/AWWIIHC. 
 
 
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.