French President Clemenceau signs the Treaty in 1919.

Events in France, Online Exhibition to Mark the Treaty of Versailles Centennial 

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

WASHINGTON, DC — On June 28th, in honor of the Centennial Anniversary of the Treaty of Versailles, a day of remembrance, commemoration, and education, will take place in Versailles, France.

The first of The Paris Peace Treaties, this treaty officially ended the state of war between the European Allied Nations and Germany.

Presenting Sponsor, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, along with National WWI Museum and Memorial, and the Doughboy Foundation, will support the activities hosted by the legendary Palace of Versailles.

There will be three parts to the commemoration:

• A DAY-LONG EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM “The Treaty of Versailles: 100 years later”, features such noted historians as John Maxwell Hamilton, Julia Irwin, Erez Manela, and Michael S. Neiberg. Students from universities in France and the U.S. will participate, and the event will later be available for free, online. Sponsored by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission.

• A DIGITAL ONLINE EXHIBITION, “The Rise of Giving: American Philanthropy and World War I” highlights the extraordinary achievements of American volunteers and philanthropists during and after World War I in Europe. Produced by the National WWI Museum and Memorial, and made possible, in part, by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission.

• AN EVENING AT VERSAILLES consists of private tours of the Royal Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors, a cocktail reception, and a Black-tie dinner in the Hall of Battles for 500 guests, envisioned by American chef ALEX HITZ. Presented by the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, endorsed by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission.

The commemoration will also include the inaugural Versailles Award for American Philanthropy presented to David Rockefeller, Jr. by Catherine Pégard, the President of the Palace of Versailles, in recognition of the contributions his grandfather, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. made to rebuild France after World War I, including the restoration of the Palace of Versailles, itself.

Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the construction of the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC.

This new national-level memorial will give recognition in Washington, DC to the more than 4.7 million Americans who served their country -- more than 320,000 of whom were wounded or died.

In addition, a contribution will be made to the restoration of the Queen's Grove, a garden planted in 1775 with indigenous American horticulture -- an enduring symbol of the three centuries of French-American alliance that started at Versailles during the American War of Independence.

A scale-model sculptural maquette of the new National World War I Memorial, as well as an 18th century drawing of the Queen’s Grove will be on display during the cocktail reception.

Overview of the original signing of the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.