Rated the #1 attraction in Kansas City by TripAdvisor and treasured as a community gathering place, the National WWI Museum and Memorial is an essential experience in the Heart of America. Visitors can expect unparalleled views of the KC skyline along with an expansive collection of stories from the First World War on display in immersive fashion.
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- Established as the Liberty Memorial through a community-led effort nearly a century ago, the iconic Kansas City landmark now stands as the nation’s officially designated World War I museum and memorial. Inside, guests will find the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts from the Great War, inviting reflection on the meaning of service and sacrifice, and the consequences of wartime that last for generations.
- The storied institution concludes a multiyear series of renovations and exhibit upgrades this spring, representing the most significant changes to the museum since its opening in 2006. Interactive touch tables, immersive displays illuminating the realities of trench warfare and enhanced film displays are all among the improvements designed to offer visitors new narratives of the First World War. On the museum’s Lower Level, the Bergman Family Gallery and Open Storage Center features 190 feet of floor-to-ceiling glass windows placing previously unseen artifacts on display.
- Among the final additions in the museum’s planned upgrades, “Encounters” debuts in May 2025 with 16 first-person accounts of the Great War, showcasing details drawn from letters, diaries and photos. The first-of-its-kind installation in a U.S. museum uses visual storytelling techniques to bring the historic accounts to life, including encounters with combat soldiers on the front lines, women who went to work in factories to support their country during wartime, dissenters who spoke out against combat and more.
- A series of special exhibitions bring distinct—and often unexplored—perspectives to the forefront. Now on display, Sacred Service recognizes the chaplains of various faiths who were called upon to serve as a source of inspiration and leadership in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
- Some of the calendar’s most significant dates are commemorated in striking fashion on the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Each Independence Day, thousands gather for an evening of fireworks and live performances at the Stars and Stripes Picnic. Throughout Memorial Day Weekend and Veterans Day Weekend, the museum offers discounted admission and a series of ceremonial activities to honor each holiday.