The National WWI Museum and Memorial stands in Kansas City as a testament to the foresight, generosity, and commitment of its citizens. Shortly after the Armistice, Kansas Citians built the Liberty Memorial to honor those who served and died in the Great War while creating a lasting symbol of freedom. To commemorate the Museum’s 100th anniversary, the Story of the Museum and Memorial exhibit, fabricated by Ravenswood Studio, was developed. The exhibit explores how generations of Kansas Citians have sustained the Museum’s legacy through stewardship of the world’s most comprehensive collection of World War I artifacts. Together, these collections reveal the global impact of the war and its lasting influence.

Visitors are first welcomed by a scale model of the site, surrounded by a reader rail that interprets key features of the grounds. Graphics and artifact cases frame the space, providing historical context and highlighting the site’s evolution over time. The cases display artifacts from the Museum’s collection alongside previously unseen objects recovered from the 1924 time capsule. Together, these elements illustrate how the grounds have served the community across generations and how public use has evolved as the site has changed.

The Pantheon de la Guerre interactive and adjacent cases invite visitors to explore the identities and stories of the individuals depicted in the gallery’s monumental painting. Layered digital content provides additional context, allowing visitors to examine significant groups represented in the work and better understand the painting’s historical and cultural significance.

Photos Courtesy of The National World War 1 Museum and Memorial