Story of the Museum and Memorial

The National WWI Museum and Memorial stands in Kansas City as a testament to the foresight, generosity and passion of its citizens.

Shortly after the Armistice, they built the Liberty Memorial to honor those who served and died in the Great War and to serve as a beacon of freedom to the world. Today, Kansas Citians continue that legacy through an internationally-recognized museum that preserves the most comprehensive collection of World War I artifacts in the world, illuminating the war's global impact and enduring influence.

The Story

Sacrifice

More than nine million uniformed combatants lost their lives in WWI. Among them were 441 Kansas Citians whose ultimate sacrifice inspired the community to build this Museum and Memorial.

Black and white portrait photo of a white woman in an early 1900s nursing uniform and hat holding an open book — Portrait photograph taken to celebrate Lottie R. Hollenback’s graduation from nursing school in 1907.

Lottie Ruth Hollenback

1881-1918

Ruth Hollenback was a trained nurse who was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1917 to care for soldiers preparing for deployment. Hollenback’s service ended abruptly when she succumbed to pneumonia on Jan. 3, 1918.

Remembrance

In 1919, Kansas Citians raised $2.5 million in 10 days to build the Liberty Memorial. Dedicated in 1926 by President Coolidge, it stands as a national symbol of remembrance.

Modern photo of Liberty Memorial Tower covered in a projected light show of red poppies — Courtesy of Jason Penberthy

Peace and Remembrance

2018

Peace and Remembrance light installation in honor of the centennial of the Armistice in 2018.

Service

For many returning veterans, service became a lifelong calling, and they continued to serve the ideals for which they had fought in the Great War. Whether through volunteering, mentoring or community engagement, they knew every action counted. What does community mean to you? How can you serve your community today?

Black and white portrait of a Black soldier with a neatly trimmed mustache, in military uniform — Portrait of Vernon C. Coffey in uniform taken while stationed in France after 1918. *Object ID: 1987.61.6 →*

Vernon C. Coffey

1894-1991

A Kansas City native, Vernon Carson Coffey served as Color Sergeant in the 806th Pioneer Infantry. After the war, Coffey became a minister at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kansas City's Front Porch

Whether for national events, city celebrations, veterans’ reunions, a place of refuge or for picnics and family photographs, Kansas Citians have gathered here for over a century.

Black and white photograph of children standing in several rows singing on Memorial Courtyard — A youth choir performing on the courtyard of the Liberty Memorial for its 50th Anniversary, 1976. *Object ID: LMA.587 →*

Modern photo of three hot air balloons floating while tethered to the ground. A large crowd of people gather around the balloons. Liberty Memorial Tower in the background. — Kansas City’s Great Balloon Glow, 2021.

The Museum and Memorial

Liberty Memorial Tower

Completed in 1926, the 217-foot-tall cylindrical Tower serves as the focal point of the Memorial. Atop the Tower is an observation deck and the Flame of Inspiration, created by steam and lighting effects to honor those who sacrificed.

Exhibit Hall and Memory Hall

From 1926 to 1994, Exhibit Hall served as the main museum gallery, while Memory Hall was designed as a place of reflection and gathering place for “patriotic societies.”

Black and white photograph of the interior of a Museum building. A large American flag is hung at the back of the hall with a flag for the American War Mothers Kansas City Chapter to the right. Glass display cases line each side. Two women and a man in military uniform stand at center. — Interior of Exhibit Hall, then the Liberty Memorial Museum, in 1944. *Object ID: LMA.240 →*

Black and white photo of the interior of Memory Hall, dominated by a painted mural of military figures on a dais surrounded by crowds. — Memory Hall in the 1950s. *Object ID: LMA.290 →*

Panthéon de la Guerre

Both halls display sections of the Panthéon de la Guerre mural – a massive panorama of notable wartime figures originally painted by two French artists at the end of WWI – offering visitors a diverse glimpse into the history and remembrance of WWI.

Fragment of the mural depicting groups of men and women gathered on marble steps. They are variously dressed as soldiers and sailors, nurses, cowboys, politicians and more.

Guardian Spirits

Carved by Robert Aitken and each standing 40 feet tall, four Guardian Spirits watch over the Memorial from the top of the Liberty Memorial Tower. As protectors of peace, each guardian holds a sword and is named for the virtue it represents: Honor, Courage, Patriotism and Sacrifice.

The Great Frieze

Spanning the Museum and Memorial’s North Wall is the Great Frieze, sculpted by WWI veteran Edmond Amateis in 1935. The images on the frieze symbolize humanity’s journey from the devastation of war to the enduring ideals of patriotism, peace and hope.