A new traveling exhibit, “D-Day, Omaha Beach,” will be displayed in the Curtis Laws Wilson Library from Friday, April 4, through Thursday, May 15. It is based on The Dead and Those About to Die, D-Day: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach, a book published by Dr. John C. McManus, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of history at S&T.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. It is designed for audiences of all ages as a remembrance of the D-Day invasion and the sacrifices made by those who served their nation on June 6, 1944. It recreates the assault on Omaha Beach, the bloodiest and most contested of the five invasion beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy.

McManus, who teaches U.S. military history, has authored 15 books on the topic. His expertise, shared in recorded video snippets, provides historical context for the exhibit, offering visitors an understanding of the challenges faced by those who fought on Omaha Beach.

The exhibit blends art, technology and historical insight to immerse visitors in the events of D-Day. In addition to McManus, contributors to the exhibit include:

• Keith Rocco, an American painter and narrative artist with over 80 paintings featured in the National Park Service.
• Mark Fastoso, an Emmy Award-winning producer with over 15 years of experience working for PBS.
• Bernard Kempinski, a nationally recognized professional model builder, who has contributed his highly detailed models and photography to the exhibit.

This exhibit has been made possible thanks to the support of the Maxwell C. Weiner Distinguished Professorship in the Humanities and S&T’s history and political science department. A gift from the estate of Maxwell C. Weiner as part of the Missouri Endowed Chair and Professorship program, the Weiner professorship is designed to attract exceptional faculty, support academic excellence, and enhance the visibility of the humanities at Missouri S&T.