This summer, York Castle Museum will be giving visitors a taste of life during the First World War as they make their way through the brand new £1.7 million exhibition, 1914: When The World Changed Forever.

Not only can visitors see some of the most brutal, odd, humorous and moving artefacts from the Great War but they can also experience war and life in 1914; from special drill sessions to learning about Morse code and tasting some of the food that would have been eaten in the trenches and on the home front.

Lucy Knock, assistant curator of social history- informal learning, said:

“With the opening of our new exhibition 1914: When the World Changed Forever, we wanted to give visitors the chance to experience the exhibition in a more hands on way that will appeal to both children and adults.

We have organised some great activities over the summer where visitors can learn about different aspects of the war in more detail; making a Morse code machine, being put through the joining up process and trying food made using war time recipes.”

Activities include:

Joining Up
Every day, 10am – 4pm

Meet the Recruitment Officer in our new exhibition, 1914: When the World Changed Forever, and find out if you have what it takes to join the new volunteer army. Sign up for special drill sessions where you will be put through your paces, at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3pm.

Total War

Find out more about life during the First World War, with object handling opportunities throughout the exhibition.

Coded Communications
Every day from 10am

Send your own messages and decode a special message from the museum using semaphore and Morse code in this drop-in activity. Weekly prize draw for correct answers.

Morse Code
Thursdays and Fridays, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm

Special drop-in family workshops to make your own Morse code machine. Places are limited and will be first come, first served.

Angel of Mons – Myths and Legends
Saturday 23rd August, 11am – 4pm

Working with an artist, help us to mark the anniversary of the start of the Battle of Mons in this drop-in session. Create your own watercolour, inspired by works from York Art Gallery’s collection depicting the story of the Angel of Mons.

Castle Kitchen

Discover and taste some of the food which would have been eaten during the First World War, and learn about rations in the trenches and food shortages on the home front.