It’s hard to fathom—and in some ways it’s very disturbing—that in this generation, where Americans have been deep in the throes of numerous global military conflicts, we have also reached the 100th anniversary of World War I. Also known as the “Great War,” it raged from 1914 to 1918, with the participation of reportedly over 100 countries, including those in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and, of course, America.
In the United States, we were under the command of President Woodrow Wilson when Congress approved our entrance into the war in 1917. When all was said and done, the costs were great for all countries involved—financially, economically, physically and sociologically. The lingering effects—both positive and negative—have been deeply entrenched in the history and psyche of this country in the century that has followed.
CAPTURING HISTORY
There are numerous historical sites, organizations and the like, both here and abroad, that impart their own particular perspectives and accounts of WWI. But the best—and the only museum in America dedicated solely to honoring those who served in the Great War and preserving the history, objects and personal experiences related to it—is the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.
The location of the museum itself, in Kansas City, Mo., is one of its most unique aspects, as one might think that a memorial for such a momentous global conflict might have been placed in a more highly visible city, like Washington D.C., for example. But that is part of the allure and story.
Kansas Citians were so deeply involved in the war efforts in a variety of ways that a mere two weeks after the Armistice on Nov. 11, 1918, they embarked upon a memorial campaign and the next year engaged in an unprecedented, community-based fundraising drive that in less than two weeks raised more than $2.5 million. That’s quite a feat in the early 1900s and a testament to the importance of the memorial for its citizens.
On Armistice Day in 1926, the Liberty Memorial opened its doors for the first time, and subsequent restorations—the latest completed in 2006—since that time have earned it designations as one of Kansas City’s iconic landmarks, by Congress as the National World War I Museum and as a National Historic Landmark. Since it opened, more than 1 million people have walked through its hallowed halls, including several current and former political dignitaries, including President Barack Obama, Vice President Dick Cheney, Sen. John McCain and Gen. Colin Powell, among others. And it continues to draw increasingly more worldwide attention, particularly during this WWI centennial year.
One of the most distinguishing features here is the architecture, the museum being built in the Egyptian Revival style and encompassing several distinctive entities. The main museum building whisks you away to another place and time at the entrance, where visitors encounter a dramatic glass bridge stretched over a field of 9,000 red poppies, each representing 1,000 combatant fatalities. And if you do the math, you’ll immediately grasp the gravity of it all–that’s 9 million fighting participants, plus an estimated 4 million to 5 million civilians deaths—all in the span of four short years.
From there, the extensive, comprehensive exhibits examining every facet of the war include “The Orientation Theater” for a brief overview of the war and its historical context; a portrait wall and interactive video portrait gallery that display the personal sacrifices of those who served; and “The Prologue Gallery,” underscoring the rapid change from the relatively peaceful, progressive and optimistic culture of Europe at that time to the sentiments, conflicts and military and diplomatic actions that led to industrialized war.
The experience also encompasses a heart-wrenching yet captivating, multilayered, year-by-year timeline that provides the overall chronology of the war through the lens of eyewitness testimonies from soldiers to sailors, civilians, front line and medical personnel, politicians and others from different countries; tableau and immersive video and audio elements in the Immersion Galleries; interactive study stations and study collections.
Together, there are over 75,000 WWI-related artifacts, recognized as the most diverse collection in the world. Other features here include a “Horizon Theater,” an “America at War” exhibit, a 20,000-square-foot research center, a 230-seat auditorium and an education center, museum store and cafe.
A GRAND TRIBUTE
The centerpiece structure and one of the major visual landmarks in Kansas City is the Liberty Memorial Tower. Cylindrical in shape with a 36-foot diameter base that tapers off to 28 feet at the top, with steam and lighting effects creating the “Flame of Inspiration” at night, it soars 217 feet above the main courtyard and 268 feet above the expansive North Lawn. It also features an open air observation deck at the top, offering spectacular views of the city and surrounding metropolitan area.
Flanking both sides of the tower are two eye-catching halls. The Exhibit Hall—the main museum gallery space from 1926 to 2006—is home to the flags of the 22 WWI Allied nations, commemorative mosaic tiles with gold stars representing the sacrifice of the Gold Star Mothers of fallen soldiers and a surviving section of the “Pantheon de la Guerre” mural attributed to the participation of French soldiers.
Memory Hall contains another portion of the “Pantheon de la Guerre” and features limited-run exhibitions, in-depth information about the Liberty Memorial via computer kiosks and in a direct connection to Kansas City with bronze tablets listing the names of the 441 citizens who died in WWI.
A visit to the museum is historical, educational and in some ways emotional, and there is a great deal to see and digest—so much so that the average visitor spends about three to four hours here. But for a low ticket price of only $14 for adults—and lower for seniors, students, youth, active-duty military and their families and teachers—visitors have access to all galleries and special exhibits for two consecutive days. Moreover, all tickets are $7 every Wednesday for “World War Wednesdays.”
National recognition, international remembrance and lessons and hope for the future—it’s all here at the National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial.
Call 816-888-8100 or visit www.theworldwar.org for more information.
Lysa Allman-Baldwin writes for numerous online and print publications, including as the cultural travel writer for www.Examiner.com and as a senior travel writer for SoulOfAmerica.com, an Afrocentric travel website. Lysa can be reached at lallmanbaldwin@kc.rr.com.