2025 marks the 80th anniversary of one of the most significant turning points in recent history, the end of World War II. Detroit Historical Society Curator of Collections Bill Pringle explores how the city answered President Roosevelt’s 1940 call to become the “arsenal of democracy,” producing nearly a third of America’s war material during World War II. His talk examines how the war effort reshaped Detroit—drawing hundreds of thousands into its factories, straining resources, and transforming daily life—while highlighting the city’s pivotal role in both winning the war and changing itself forever.
Presented by the Detroit Public Library
Parkman Branch | 1766 Oakman Blvd., Detroit 48238