Engulfed by four years of total war, the world emerged transformed.
The conflict that ripped through national borders and eroded centuries-old power dynamics receded, and in its wake swelled a storm that redefined citizenship and just governance. Amid the unfamiliarity of wartime and post-war societies, populations were both bound by tradition and buoyed by bids to reshape political, economic and social landscapes. Some who once marched into combat for their leaders now marched against them. Tensions rippled from one continent to the next, stirring revolutions and reforms.
Join us as we examine – from the battlefield to the ballot box – the evolution of citizenship during World War I and its legacy through the century.
Who should attend?
All who have a general or professional interest in the periods prior to, during and after World War I. We especially recommend this symposium to educators, historians and members of organizations that study these periods.
Symposium Fee
The 2022 Symposium will be hybrid, hosting speakers and guests both in-person and online. In-person sessions will be livestreamed for online attendees, who can also participate in live Q/A.
In-person registration includes access to the galleries, light breakfasts, lunches and admission to the Friday evening reception. In-person symposium attendees who wish to bring guests to the reception will need to buy additional reception tickets for their guests.
Online symposium attendees will receive digital access to all sessions.
Can’t attend the whole Symposium, but still want to see a few sessions? Contact us at travel@theworldwar.org or 816.888.8153.
Early Bird In-Person Registration (ends Oct. 7)
| Symposium Registration | $150 |
| Active Volunteer | $60 |
| Teacher/Student | $60 |
| Reception only for Friday evening (includes two complimentary drinks) |
$45 |
In-Person Registration
(after Oct. 7)
| Symposium Registration | $195 |
| Active Volunteer | $75 |
| Teacher/Student | $75 |
| Reception only for Friday evening (includes two complimentary drinks) |
$45 |
Online Registration (no expiry)
| Includes remote access to all | $60 |
Hotel Information
A discounted block of rooms is set aside at the Hampton Inn & Suites Kansas City - Country Club Plaza. Please use this link to book your room at the special Symposium rate or contact the hotel for further information. To receive the special rate, reservations must be completed by Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.
Refund Policy
The Museum and Memorial will honor a 50 percent refund on registration fees until Oct. 7. On Oct. 7 and beyond, no refunds will be granted. Attendees may contact Mark Gunter at 816.888.8103 to request a refund.
Past Symposia
Fractured Fronts
Oct. 29-30, 2021
As the Great War “ended,” many questions confronted the global community that remain just as pressing today as they did one hundred years ago: How does war impact how we understand ourselves and our place in the world? What does it mean to “come home” when the places and people you called home have changed irrevocably?
1919: Peace?
Nov. 1-2, 2019
1919 was a year of sweeping changes in a landscape dramatically altered by years of unrelenting warfare. Leaders advanced towards elusive peace amid political instability, economic uncertainty and social conflict. As terms of the Treaty of Versailles were negotiated, a world reordered faced decisions and realities that would leave a complex legacy.
1918: Crucible of War
Nov. 1-3, 2018
Explore the irrevocable changes five years of cataclysmic conflict wrought on the global stage. As borders were literally and figuratively redrawn, Allies celebrated a victory and the world came to terms with the irreparable devastation and losses of the “war to end all wars.”
1917: America Joins the Fight
Nov. 3-4, 2017
The United States emerged from its traditional isolation in 1917 and began to take its place in the forefront of world affairs. As the U.S. mobilized its farms, industries, and formed a large army, it confronted curtailing civil liberties and faced a possible demand for equity in return for support.
Remembering Muted Voices
Oct. 19-22, 2017
Although the U.S. actively took part in the conflict for only 18 months, the war effort introduced mass conscription, transformed the American economy and mobilized popular support through war bonds, patriotic rallies and anti-German propaganda. Nevertheless, many people desired a negotiated peace, opposed American intervention, refused to support the war effort and even imagined future world orders that could eliminate war.
1916: Total War
Nov. 4-5, 2016
Explore the pivotal year of 1916, where global socio-political tensions created by World War I continued escalation and irrevocably changed the economic, military, and cultural landscape of the world.
1915: Empires at War
Nov. 6-7, 2015
Explore the rising tensions in America and the globally escalating conflict that defined the world in 1915. Follow the trajectories of different countries around the world as the conflict escalated to total war, including fighting in the colonies and East Asia, stalemate in the West, Churchill’s disaster at Gallipoli, mobilization at home, and the polarization of American society around the issue of war.
1914: Global War and American Neutrality
Nov. 7-8, 2014
Examine the origins of, reactions to and early confrontations in the First World War including the political, diplomatic, military, cultural and scientific developments prior to the war that contributed to its outbreak.