News
Recent News from the National WWI Museum and Memorial
COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
The Museum and Memorial is open. Your visit will be different due to the spread of COVID-19, but safety is our top priority for our guests, staff and volunteers. Learn more about what will be different with your visit at theworldwar.org/safe.
8/3/20 — How WWI Changed America Launches, Aug. 3, 2020
The National WWI Museum and Memorial, the Doughboy Foundation and the World War One Centennial Commission have launched How World War I Changed America, an interactive educational website about the enduring impact of the World War I featuring free videos, lessons and resources for teachers. Visit site ›
7/28/20 — New Exhibition, Votes & Voices, Opens Wednesday, July 29, 2020
The National WWI Museum and Memorial commemorates the centennial of the 19th Amendment, prohibiting the denial of voting rights on account of gender, with a new exhibition dedicated to telling the story of the women’s suffrage movement. Learn more ›
7/14/20 — New COLLECTIONS SPOTLIGHT: LUSITANIA MEDALS
On May 7, 1915, the passenger liner Lusitania was sunk by German submarine U-20 in British waters. Of the passengers, 1,198 drowned, including many women and children and 124 U.S. citizens. Public outrage spun quickly around the world. Learn more ›
6/24/20 — Museum and Memorial Announces $125,000 Gift from NEH for Digitization and Transcription of WWI Letters
The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced a grant for $125,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to digitize and transcribe letters, diaries and journals from soldiers and family members originated from World War I. Read the Press Release ›
6/16/20 — New Online Articles: Beer in World War I and Grenades
New online articles have been added to the Museum and Memorial website, including a look into the relationship between beer and soldiers during the war and a look at the different types of grenades and "hand bombs" used in World War I.
5/20/20 — National WWI Museum and Memorial Sets Reopen Date
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will reopen to members on Monday, June 1 and to the general public on Tuesday, June 2. Read the Press Release ›
4/16/20 — National WWI Museum and Memorial Closure extended until further notice
Keeping with the stay-at-home orders issued in the Kansas City metro area, the National WWI Museum and Memorial has extended its closure until further notice. We are actively monitoring the situation and working on plans to reopen as soon as it is safe and possible. In the meantime, please connect with us on social, or check out some of the online resources we have been making available while we are closed.
4/15/20 — COLLECTIONS SPOTLIGHT: Portrait of John Lewis Barkley
John Lewis Barkley was a U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient of World War I, for his valiant action in fighting holding off two German attacks with a captured machine gun. Learn more ›
3/23/20 — National WWI Museum and Memorial Closure extended through April 24
Following with the Stay-at-home order issued in the Kansas City metro area, the National WWI Museum and Memorial has extended its closure date through Friday, April 24.
3/14/20 — National WWI Museum and Memorial Closes Due to Concerns with COVID-19/Coronavirus
On the heels of an increase in reported cases of the COVID-19/Coronavirus in both the Kansas City metropolitan area and across the country, the National WWI Museum and Memorial will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 and remain closed through Friday, April 3. The closure mirrors the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s declaration of a state of emergency through April 3. The exterior grounds will remain open to the public during this period of time. Read the Press Release ›
3/5/20 — Early closure of some Museum and Memorial Spaces on Saturday, March 7
On Saturday, March 7, the Memorial Courtyard, Edward Jones Research Center and Exhibit Hall will close early at 3 p.m. and the last ride to the top of the Liberty Memorial Tower will be at 2:15 p.m. due to an event for former-Vice President/presidential candidate Joe Biden. Operating hours for other Museum and Memorial spaces will be unaffected. Please allow extra time for parking and travel in the area. Learn more ›
4/15/20 — COLLECTIONS SPOTLIGHT: War Brides of the Great War
The term ‘war brides’ originally referred to women who quickly married before their husbands left for military service. By the end of the Great War, war brides took on the entirely new meaning of international women marrying American soldiers serving overseas. Learn more ›
2/3/20 — Extended hours and discount admission on Wednesday, Feb. 5
Congratulations to the World Champion Kansas City Chiefs! In celebration of their Super Bowl win and in conjunction with events occurring downtown on Wednesday, Feb. 5, we will be offering discount admission and extended operating hours. Learn more ›
1/17/20 — Closed on Friday, Jan. 17, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closed all day on Friday, Jan. 17, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
1/10/20 — Closed on Saturday, Jan. 11, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closed all day on Saturday, Jan. 11, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
12/15/19 — Closing early on Sunday, Dec. 15, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closing at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status. All public programs and events for the day, including our Joyeux Noël screening, have been cancelled.
11/7/19 — Veterans DAY WEEKEND AT THE MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL
Join us in honoring veterans with special activities, free public ceremonies on the grounds and free general admission for veterans and active duty military to the Museum and Memorial, Friday, Nov. 8 through Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. In addition, general admission is half price for the public all weekend. Learn more ›
10/14/19 — DRIVING ADVISORY FOR SATURDAY, OCT. 19
Due to the Kansas City Marathon, guests visiting in the morning on Saturday, Oct. 19 should access the Museum and Memorial from the West due to street closures in the area, including Main Street. Learn more ›
9/19/19 — Lest We Forget, Sept. 20 – Oct. 6, 2019 on the Memorial Courtyard
For this deeply moving outdoor exhibition, German-Italian photographer and filmmaker Luigi Toscano visited and took portraits of almost 400 Holocaust survivors. Learn more ›
9/3/19 — Closing early on Saturday, Sept. 14, for Night at the Tower
The Museum will be closing at 2 p.m. and the Memorial Courtyard will be closed from 5‑8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 for Night at the Tower. Normal Museum and Memorial operating hours will resume on Sunday, Sept. 15.
8/30/19 — Collections Spotlight: Barometric Chart of War Atmosphere and Feelings
A recently processed collection at the Museum and Memorial highlights the unique way one British woman tracked her emotions during World War I, using a barometric chart. Learn more ›
8/7/19 — Join us for Night at the Tower, Saturday, Sept. 14.
An unforgettable evening awaits as the National WWI Museum and Memorial presents the fifth annual Night at the Tower gala. A departure from the traditional gala, guests are invited to mingle, bid on auction items and celebrate a night like no other – all to raise funds to allow for the preservation of this natural treasure in our backyard. Learn more ›
7/8/19 — The Great Car Show, July 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join the Kansas City Automotive Museum and the National WWI Museum and Memorial for a day of music, educational displays, food trucks, demonstrations, ride-alongs and… cars! Featuring hundreds of vehicles of all makes, models and years, tickets start at just $5 for adults and $2 for youth. Rain or shine. Learn more ›
6/24/19 — New Digital Exhibitions, The Volunteers and The Rise of Giving, Released
Two new digital exhibitions from the Museum and Memorial are now available. The Rise of Giving: American Philanthropy and WWI explores the philanthropic movement that provided relief during and after WWI, sharing the stories of the Americans and the organizations that played a key role in reshaping the world in the wake of war, while The Volunteers: Americans Join World War I examines the stories of the young men and women who transformed the meaning of volunteerism.
5/29/19 — DRIVING ADVISORY FOR SATURDAY, June 1
Due to the Hospital Hill Run, guests visiting in the morning on Saturday, June 1 should access the Museum and Memorial from the West (via W. Pershing Rd. and Kessler Rd.) due to street closures in the area, including Main St. Learn more ›
5/27/19 — New Special Exhibition, The Vietnam War: 1945-1975, Announced
The National WWI Museum and Memorial announces the special exhibition The Vietnam War: 1945-1975 which will open in conjunction with Veterans Day. On view Nov. 8, 2019 – May 31, 2020 in the Wylie Gallery. Learn more ›
5/20/19 — Memorial Day Weekend at the Museum and Memorial
Admission to the Museum is free for veterans and active duty military personnel, while admission for the general public is half-price all weekend (Friday-Monday, May 24-27). The Museum offers several events during the course of the weekend for people of all ages and interests, including a free public ceremony at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day. Learn more ›
3/26/19 — Collections Spotlight: U.S. Army Nurse Corps Baseball Uniform
During the American Occupation of Germany in 1919-1920, baseball teams were formed from the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and YMCA women volunteers. These teams barnstormed around Germany, playing to enthusiastic crowds. The Museum and Memorial recently acquired two uniforms from these teams. Learn more ›
3/11/19 — “Special flag honoring service and sacrifice of K-9 veterans raised at National WWI Museum”
This video from Jill Toyoshiba at The Kansas City Star looks at the Museum and Memorial's recent flag raising, in honor of K9 Veterans Day. View online ›
3/3/19 — Closed on Sunday, March 3, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closed on Sunday, March 3, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
2/27/19 — Opening at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will open at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, due to the icy weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
2/20/19 — Opening at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will open at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
2/19/19 — “At Kansas City's World War I Museum, Personal Legacies Of Service Live On In Fabric”
This article by Anne Kniggendorf of KCUR takes a look at the Museum and Memorial's new exhibition, Color of Memory: Fabric Art of WWI. Read online ›
2/15/19 — Closing early on Friday, Feb. 15, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closing at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
2/15/19 — “Black History Month: African American World War I heroes had big role defining 'true meaning of democracy’”
Fox News discusses the contributions of African Americans in WWI with this article, which cites Museum and Memorial staff and exhibitions. Read online ›
2/12/19 — “The Forgotten Story of the American Troops Who Got Caught Up in the Russian Civil War”
Erick Trickey of Smithsonian.com talks with our Senior Curator Doran Cart about the “Polar Bear Expedition,” the U.S. troops that served in northern Russia, where conflict continued after the Armistice of World War I. Read online ›
2/7/19 — Closed Thursday, Feb. 7, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will closed on Thursday, Feb. 7, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
1/23/19 — Late Opening on Wednesday, Jan. 23, due to weather - Open 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be opening late (at 1 p.m.) on Wednesday, Jan. 23, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
1/22/19 — New Exhibition, Color of Memory: Fabric Art of WWI Opens Tuesday, Jan. 29
“Remember Me.” “Souvenir de France.” “Mother Dear.” “Merci!” These and countless other sentiments are expressed in fabric art that came from WWI. Many were made in response to loved ones going to war, others to serve the clamor for souvenirs. Color of Memory explores expressions of remembrance through works from the Museum and Memorial’s collection. Learn More ›
1/12/19 — Closed Saturday, Jan. 12, due to weather
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closed Saturday, Jan. 12, due to the winter weather conditions throughout the area. Please check our website or social media channels for further updates on the Museum and Memorial's status.
1/2/19 — ‘Even the ruin was ruined’: New ‘Devastated Lands’ exhibit captures WWI destruction
This article by Matt Campbell of The Kansas City Star highlights the Museum and Memorial's new exhibition, Devastated Lands. Read online ›
12/20/18 — Holiday closings at the Museum and Memorial
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closed Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 24-25 for Christmas and Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 31- Jan. 1 for New Year's. Visit our Hours & Admission page to see our upcoming schedule. Please note that the Museum and Memorial is a non-profit organization that receives no federal funding and is not affected by the government shutdown. We’ll be open every day during the next two weeks with the exception of the holidays listed above.
12/7/18 — Local Traffic Advisory for Friday, Dec. 7
On Friday, Dec. 7, traffic will be affected due to a planned Presidential event in Kansas City. Visitors should access to the Museum and Memorial grounds from the south using Wyandotte Street. There will be a short period of time where Wyandotte Street is closed - we appreciate your patience and understanding.
11/19/18 — The Museum and Memorial will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 22
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving. Normal hours will resume on Friday, Nov. 23 (Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
11/12/18 — Research Center hours for Sunday, Nov. 18
The Edward Jones Research Center will close early (at 1 p.m.) on Sunday, Nov. 18. Learn more ›
11/11/18 — The Centennial of the Armistice of World War I
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 marked one hundred years since the signing of the Armistice that brought fighting to an end on the Western Front. Watch video of the Armistice Ceremony and the Bells of Peace ceremony, hosted here at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
Learn more about this historic event and its commemoration with the following articles:
The Kansas City Star — “‘The world came to its senses’: KC marks WWI armistice centennial, Veterans Day”
Fox4 KC — “Poppy illumination at Liberty Memorial gives visitors a unique reflection on WWI”
KCUR — “Hundreds Turn Out In Kansas City For 100th Anniversary of World War I Armistice”
Fox News — “World War I: 100 years on, the US remembers the end of the ‘Great War’”
The New York Times — “Keeping WWI Alive for New Generations”
NPR — “100 Years On, The 'Hello Girls' Are Recognized For World War I Heroics”
CNN — “In photos: World War I, Then and Now”
Forbes — “Art World Remembers World War I On 100th Anniversary Of Armistice”
Los Angeles Times — “From the Archives: Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, which marked the end of World War I”
10/17/18 — Driving Advisory for Saturday, Oct. 20
Due to the Kansas City Marathon, guests visiting in the morning on Saturday, Oct. 21 should access the Museum and Memorial from the West due to street closures in the area, including Main Street. Learn more ›
Museum and Memorial closing at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closing early on Saturday, Sept. 15 for Night at the Tower. The Museum and Memorial will be closing to the public at 2 p.m. that day, with normal hours to resume on Sunday.
9/11/18 — Diggers and Doughboys: The Art of Allies 100 Years On Now Open
Diggers and Doughboys Special Exhibition Opens Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Museum and Memorial. Learn more ›
9/7/18 — National WWI Museum and Memorial Named One of Top 25 Museums in the United States
The National WWI Museum and Memorial was again named one of Top 25 Museums in the United States by TripAdvisor. Learn more ›
9/1/18 — Museum and Memorial closing at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be closing early on Saturday, Sept. 15 for Night at the Tower. The Museum and Memorial will be closing to the public at 2 p.m. that day, with normal hours to resume on Sunday. Tickets are still available for Night at the Tower. Learn more ›
8/20/18 — The Hundred Days Offensive, article available online
The Hundred Days Offensive was a series of attacks by the Allied troops at the end of World War I. Starting on August 8, 1918, and ending with the Armistice on November 11, the Offensive led to the defeat of the German Army. Learn more in our article ›
8/7/18 — Amiens 100: Student Battlefield Tour journal available online
This August, students from Australia, Canada, France, the UK and the United States came together to tour the former WWI battlefields as part of the commemoration of the centennial of the war in Amiens, France. The students from the U.S., supported by the National WWI Museum and Memorial and the United States World War I Centennial Commission, have been sharing their experiences. Follow along with their Tour Journal ›
8/6/18 — Restored 1918 Harley-Davidson to Visit Kansas City & National WWI Museum and Memorial as Part of 5,600 Mile Trek Across United States
A team of motorcycle enthusiasts from France on a 5,600-mile odyssey across the United States in a restored 1918 Harley-Davidson Model J will pass through Kansas City and stop at the National WWI Museum and Memorial at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7. Approximately 400 Harley-Davidson Model J’s were deployed in Northern France during World War I. Found in a barn in France, Chistophe de Goulaine purchased this particular motorcycle in 2008 before embarking on a painstaking restoration process. He and mechanic Pierre Lauvergeat created Operation Twin Links to honor the role of the U.S. in assisting France during World War I. Learn more and follow their progress on Facebook.
7/13/18 — "WWI Commission Announces New Partnership with National History Day, Gilder-Lehrman Institute, and the National WWI Museum & Memorial"
This new collaborative education program will assist instruction for both teachers and school students about WWI, through a series of over 100 teaching events nationwide, including workshops, webinars, and other activities. Read the full announcement ›
6/30/18 — "These Pictures Show The Brave Men And Women Who Fought WWI"
By Gabriel H. Sanchez of BuzzFeed News, this photo essay shares the experiences of everyday people during the war. The photographs, from the Museum and Memorial's collection, show a rarely-seen glimpse of everyday life during the war. View on BuzzFeed News ›
6/17/18 — Taps at the Tower: Sunday, June 17 through Saturday, June 23 at Sunset
Join us June 17 - 23 for Taps at the Tower. Bring your picnics and enjoy the grounds until sunset each evening, when people will gather at the Liberty Memorial Tower to experience Taps being played during a brief, moving ceremony. Learn more on our website or read The Kansas City Star's coverage on the event.
5/24/18 — Memorial Day Weekend at the Museum and Memorial
Admission to the Museum is free for veterans and active duty military personnel, while admission for the general public is half-price all weekend (Friday-Monday, May 25-28). The Museum offers several events during the course of the weekend for people of all ages and interests, including a free public ceremony at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day. Learn more ›
5/22/18 — New exhibition, War Around Us: Soldier Artist Impressions, now open
Creating art when surrounded by war seems contradictory. Artists Jean Lefort, Curtiney George Foote, Charles Thatcher Shellabarger, Myron Chapin and Jean Berne-Bellecour demonstrate several ways one can capture wartime experiences using the fields, villages, and people who witnessed the devastation of WWI. Exhibition open May 22, 2018 – January 13, 2019 in the Ellis Gallery. Learn more ›
4/4/18 — “Women code operators were crucial in World War I, as new exhibit shows”
This article by Matt Campbell of The Kansas City Star highlights the service of women telephone operators of WWI and looks the Museum and Memorial's new exhibition, Crucible Life and Death 1918. Read the article ›
4/3/18 — New exhibition, Crucible Life and Death 1918, now open
For the Doughboys on the Western Front, 1918 was their year. It was the crucible where the American land forces forged their fighting force. They fought alongside their main allies from Cantigny to Belleau Wood to the Champagne Region, the Piave River to the Marne to St. Mihiel to the Meuse Argonne to Vladivostok. This exhibition is not an illustration or timeline of how the 1918 battles were fought, rather it focuses on individuals and their lives and deaths in 1918. Exhibition open April 3, 2018 – March 10, 2019 in Exhibit Hall. Learn more ›
3/19/18 — Collections Spotlight: Secret - List of Code Words
A recently processed collection of documents at the Museum and Memorial contains a list of over 130 secret code words used by the American Expeditionary Forces, in this case a simple substitution cipher where unrelated words took the place of key military terminology. Learn more ›
2/22/18 — “A Massive Memorial Of Chemical Warfare”
KCUR's Up to Date explored what makes John Singer Sergeant's painting Gassed such a lasting and vivid reminder of the brutality of chemical warfare with Museum and Memorial Senior Curator Doran Cart, and Robert Cozzolino, Patrick and Aimee Butler curator of paintings, Minneapolis Institute of Art. Listen to the program here ›
2/16/18 — Museum and Memorial President and CEO presented with the 2018 Modern Patriot Award
On Feb. 16, the Missouri Society of the Sons of the Revolution held a moving Wreath Laying Service on the Paul Sunderland Glass Bridge at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Following the service, the organization presented Dr. Matthew Naylor with the 2018 Modern Patriot Award as part of the annual George Washington Luncheon at the Museum and Memorial. Missouri Society President Richard W. Strelinger presented Naylor with the award, which is given to a non-member of the organization who has helped further advance the aims of the Society.
2/14/18 — “WWI Museum Exhibit Honors African-American Soldiers”
This article by Abbey Tiderman of Channel One News—the daily news program for schools known for launching the careers of journalists such as Anderson Cooper and Lisa Ling—looks at the Museum and Memorial's digital exhibition, Make Way For Democracy. The exhibition, available on Google Arts & Culture, details the contributions and experiences of African Americans in the First World War. Read the article ›
1/31/18 — “Huge painting ‘Gassed’ is installed at KC’s National World War I Museum and Memorial”
Matt Campbell of The Kansas City Star provides this write up on the installation of John Singer Sargent's painting Gassed in the Museum and Memorial's new Wylie Gallery. The exhibition will open to the public on Feb 23. Read the article ›
1/12/18 — “Extraordinary” and “Colossal” Painting to be Centerpiece of Debut Exhibition in National WWI Museum and Memorial’s New Wylie Gallery
One of the world’s largest war-related paintings will be exhibited in the Midwest for the first time as part of the inaugural Wylie Gallery exhibition John Singer Sargent Gassed, which opens Feb. 23. Learn more ›
1/8/18 — Liberty Memorial Tower Updates
We’re pleased to share that the Liberty Memorial Tower will be undergoing extension modernization improvements during the next several weeks. Made possible by The Sunderland Foundation, these enhancements include modernizing the Tower elevator, adding a communication system, completely repainting the interior of the Tower, installation of fiber optic cables, the addition of high definition cameras to allow guests to see the fantastic aerial views from the top of the Tower remotely and much more. During these improvements, the Tower will not be available. Thanks for your patience as we improve America’s official WWI memorial!