Current Exhibitions
The Vietnam War: 1945‑1975, A Traveling Exhibition from the New‑York Historical Society
More than 40 years after its conclusion, the Vietnam War remains one of the most controversial events of the 20th century. How did the conflict begin? Why did it begin? What are the connections between the war and its confounding cousin, World War I? From perspectives covering both the home front and the war front, The Vietnam War: 1945-1975 explores themes of patriotism, duty and citizenship through a remarkable collection of objects, documents, photographs and more. Exhibition open Nov. 8, 2019 – May 31, 2020 in the Wylie Gallery.
1919: Peace?
The World War I Armistice on Nov. 11, 1918 ended fighting on the Western Front, but the war did not end even with the signing of the Treaty of Paris at Versailles on June 28, 1919. The world of aristocrats and monarchs vaporized. Millions died. Russia struggled in civil war. Japan’s power in Asia and the Pacific grew. Germany wilted under harsh reparations. Arab nations seethed for independence. The U.S. assumed an uneasy mantle of world leader. This special exhibition examines how the war transformed the world, but left a legacy of unresolved issues and conflict. Exhibition open April 2, 2019 – March 1, 2020 in Exhibit Hall.
We’re Home—Now What?
From the earliest history of armed conflict soldiers have done their duty and returned to their homes and families. In the aftermath of WWI, millions of servicemen and women came home from a war that was unprecedented in its impact. This special exhibition examines the challenging transition for service personnel from war-time duty to civilian life through archival materials. Exhibition open March 12 – Sept. 15, 2019, in Ellis Gallery.
Color of Memory: Fabric Art of WWI
“Remember Me.” “Souvenir de France.” “Mother Dear.” “Merci!” These and countless other sentiments are expressed in the fabric art that came from World War I. This exhibition explores manifestations of remembrance through striking and moving works from the Museum and Memorial’s collection. Exhibition open Jan. 29, 2019 – Sept. 2, 2019 in the Wylie Gallery.
Devastated Lands
World War I left behind an unprecedented path of desolate landscapes. By the end of the war, much of the Western Front resembled anything but rolling countryside. Instead, the destruction yielded topography akin to an uninhabited planet. This exhibition examines the battered lands through a series of jarring photographs and illustrations from the Museum and Memorial’s collection. Exhibition open Dec. 11, 2018 – Dec. 22, 2019 in Memory Hall
Lest We Forget
For this deeply moving exhibition, German-Italian photographer and filmmaker Luigi Toscano visited and took portraits of almost 400 Holocaust survivors in the United States, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Belarus, Austria and the Netherlands. In Lest We Forget, 70 of those photographs are presented outdoors as large-scale portraits, seven of which feature Kansas City-area Holocaust survivors. Exhibition open Sept. 20 – Oct. 6, 2019 on the Memorial Courtyard.