America250 Lecture Series – Sports in the Shadow of World War II

Together we will examine how World War II fundamentally reshaped athletics, as major sporting events were suspended, athletes were drafted into military service, and leagues were forced to adapt for survival. We’ll explore the cancellation of global competitions such as the 1940 and 1944 Olympics and the World Cup, the rise of women’s sports—most notably the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League—the merging of professional teams like the Steagles, and the shift toward military base athletics. Despite these challenges, sports remained a crucial source of morale and unity on the home front during wartime.

When: August 11, 2026 at 6:00PM

Cost: FREE for members; $7 for non-members (tickets include a self-guided tour of the museum in addition to the program)

Each person attending must be a member to get the member rate. Members may not make reservations for non-members on their behalf