National World War I Museum

National World War I Museum

https://theworldwar.org

   Opened in 2006, the National World War I museum in Kansas City is an expansion of the Liberty Memorial. Ground underneath the Liberty Memorial was excavated for the expansion. Entry into museum is, as Jay Winter would say, a "descent into war" (Winter Imagining). The entry way is down a ramp into massive metal doors. Except for the earlier buildings of the Liberty Memorial, the entire museum is underground.

National World War I Museum - entrance is through the doors underneath the Tower of Liberty

  More space is available for the vast collection of artifacts that has been donated to the Museum since World War I. There is also space for the archives and a research library. Deterioration of the memorial had caused it to be closed in 1994. A Sales Tax in 1998 financed the restoration and vast expansion. Helpful also was the 2004 designation as a National museum. 

The sobering entry to the museum is across a field of 9,000 poppies, where each poppy represents the death of 1,000 combatants. 

Entry to the National World War I Museum - Over a field of poppies

   An introductory film and the first gallery set the stage for the war’s outbreak. Subsequent galleries are arranged around an elaborate timeline. Oval in shape the first side of the oval details the war from the inception to just before the declaration of war by the United States. Before proceeding to the second half of the oval a movie about the entire war, including the spread of war and the entry of the United States, is shown on a giant screen hanging about and behind models of soldiers trudging through rough terrain. The second half of the time line details the American role in the war. Post war conIn the middle of the time line oval are interactive tables and booths with recordings of literature, poetry and music of the time. 

Map of the National World War I Museum

The introductory pre-war movie is summarized here.

First half of the oval timeline 1914 to 1917

The movie that documents the war is shown in this dramatic setting. 

Second half of the timeline - AEF entry

Aftermath

     The knowledgeable and friendly volunteer corps of 300 direct visitors, answer questions and lead tours. During my last visit a docent was instructing a small group of middle schoolers.