Memorial Day, Centennial Exhibition and more at the National WWI Museum and Memorial

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On the Memorial Day of the National WWI Museum & Memorial's centennial year, join them as they give special honor and recognition to the individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving their country. The Museum and Memorial will be offering free admission for veterans and active-duty military (including spouses and dependents with ID) as well as Half-price admission for the public on Friday, May 22 - Monday, May 25. A 10 a.m. ceremony will feature a keynote address from the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General (Ret.) Richard Meyers. Also during the ceremony, Scouts will lay 441 wreaths in honor of the war dead who the Liberty Memorial Tower is built for. For a full list of Memorial Day activities, visit theworldwar.org/memorialday.

Due to set-up for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Fan Festival, there will be EXTREMELY LIMITED PARKING available on the grounds this month. Thy Museum advises visitors to park near the Streetcar line and take the KC Streetcar to the Union Station stop or arrive via city bus with RideKC. More information will be available at theworldwar.org in the coming days and weeks.

Opening on Friday, May 22 is a story 100 years in the making. Story of the Museum and Memorial is a new permanent exhibition in Memory Hall highlighting the incredible legacy of Kansas Citians who built and stewarded the Museum and Memorial for the past century. Included in the exhibition are stories of the 441 Kansas Citians who died in WWI, a detailed look at the Panthéon de la Guerre and a call for each visitor to consider how they will serve – by volunteering, voting, in the military or at their child’s PTA.

The Kansas City Symphony’s Mobile Music Box returns to the Museum and Memorial’s North Lawn for a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire Du Soldat” (“The Soldier’s Tale”): a story vividly told through music about a soldier who trades his violin to the devil in exchange for wealth. The program will feature two ensembles and last 90 minutes. These free and family-friendly concerts are just right for classical music fans and those who may have never experienced a Symphony concert.

May National World War I Museum Events

About the National WWI Museum and Memorial - The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum holds the most diverse collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National World War I Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org. 

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