National WWI Museum and Memorial

We were able to visit the National World War 1 Museum recently. It was amazing. Very well done. Such sad hard stories but portrayed in powerful ways. They have done a good job telling the stories of the War. We all need to remember or be reminded of our history. It’s very important to teach our history. So many adults do not know what has happened in our past. Our children definitely need to study history. We do not want to repeat errors of our past. Thank you for being available for us all to visit & be reminded of how we became the people we are today.

Best museum I've ever been to. Everything is done top notch. You start the museum with a short video that explains the history of WW1 prior to America's involvement. Next you enter an area that shows all the timeline of events and all the normal artifacts. Then you enter a second theater which explains how the United States got involved in world war. Lastly you enter a second part of the museum with the timeline again and all the artifacts. Very well done. If you're hoping to visit the tower like I was do so in cooler months. Apparently they shut it down when it gets really hot because there's no AC up there and they don't want their volunteers to pass out! Would highly recommend this museum.

Fantastic, world-class museum. Gives an in-depth look at a major historical period in history that’s often overlooked. Great reflection on geopolitics of isolationism in the United States. The trench exhibit is well-done and illuminating. The Freedom Tower is worth the additional cost, and you get a great view of Downtown Kansas City. 10/10 recommended!

The WWI Museum and Memorial is honestly one of the coolest and most moving places I’ve ever visited. It’s really well organized, and you can tell a lot of thought went into every detail. The layout is super easy to follow—it takes you through the war in a clear, chronological way that really helps you understand how everything unfolded. The exhibits are interesting and emotional without being overwhelming. You learn so much, but it never feels boring or too heavy. The theaters are really well done too—great sound, visuals, and storytelling. They really help bring the history to life and give you a break to just sit and take it all in. The staff and volunteers were so friendly and helpful. You can tell they really care about the place and want visitors to have a great experience. And the memorial tower? Just wow. It adds a whole other level of meaning to the experience. If you’re anywhere near Kansas City, make time for this. It’s powerful, respectful, and really special. Totally worth the visit.

I don’t know where to start. From the second you park your vehicle, entering the exhibit, to the outside grounds. This place is not only five stars, but they deserve extra as to the condition this place is kept. I can’t stress enough to the public to make the stop, enjoy the history as to what this museum has to offer. I could spend the entire weekend here looking at all of the historic artifacts. The beautiful setups, it just takes a second to really enjoy the history. I would do this exhibit over and over again.

The museum was amazing, and had a wide range of historical artifacts from almost all participating countries in the war. They had a lot of great uniforms, helmets, and weapons (including tanks and three planes). The museum is not very large, but it did take me around 3 hours to visit. Would come again 100%! :)

I've tried to visit twice now (years apart) and both times the building was being worked on so you could not go up the observation tower. Aside from that, the staff was very knowledgeable and I felt like they made learning fun. You can tell all of the employees are passionate about working there. The exhibits were wonderful. We also saw the exhibit in the small building called

One of my favorite museums I’ve been to. They did such a great job chronicling the war, using technology, materials, and AVs. Loved the tower too. The staff are knowledgeable and kind as well. Meant to spend an hour or so, ended up spending 3-4 hours.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is one of the most thoughtfully curated and moving museums I've ever visited. From the architecture to the exhibits, every detail honors the immense sacrifices made during World War I. The artifacts, personal stories, and immersive displays offer both historical depth and emotional weight. It's more than a museum -- it's a place of remembrance and reflection. Highly recommend taking your time here; it's an essential experience for anyone seeking to understand the cost of war and the legacy it leaves behind.

I am giving this museum five stars because the content is wonderful and the people were very nice and helpful. I picked a bad day to visit as there were several groups of school kids, which is great (I am so glad that kids learn about this important time in history) but altered my experience, jumping around to stay out of their way. My only complaint is in the display cases where the numbered items are not in order, forcing you to either look at the numbered items and then see what each is or read the description and then look for where it is.

I'm very impressed by this history museum discussing the history and tactics used at the turn of the century. This museum houses the most comprehensive collection of WW1 artifacts on the planet. It's the leading institution dedicated to remembering this terrible time. Dedicated in 1921 just a few years after the Great War, this museum does a great job of showing the difficulties and horrors of this conflict. Despite its age, the museum has been and continues to be updated with interactive technologies and state of the art facilities to tell its tale. The Main Gallery holds the permanent exhibition, and walks you through the series of events that led the world towards cataclysmic disaster. It then takes you through the decision of the United States to enter the war and our participation in the events. There are plenty of interactive and hands on displays. there are audio guides that give additional insights to various periods of the times and people. One of the more notable temporary exhibitions during my visit was The Little War which explores the lives of children during the war. War touches everybody differently, and its affects result in the direction of the future. The museum has a cafe and a store. It allows photography, and there's plenty to note. Its grounds are beautifully maintained, inside and outside. Above the museum is the memorial itself, which includes the Liberty Tower, the Memorial Courtyard (which overlooks the KC skyline), and the Exhibit and Memory Halls. Again this museum is beautiful, and despite the sad topic, the museum does a great job of interpreting and remembering the Great War for the goods, the bads, and the ugly. The museum commands respect, and I ask future visitors to remember to be humbled by the past, and enjoy the site.

Super clean- great place for a walk and picnic. We love going up here for a view of the city.

This is a hidden gem folks. Do not miss the opportunity to visit and experience the displays, the video presentations, and history. Folks, worth the price of admission and then some. No disappointments here. Enjoy

Excellent museum that gives a very accurate and unbiased explanation of the Great War. Lots of interactive exhibits that show all sides of the war. Facilities are incredible and the staff were very friendly.

This memorial has museum and big tower located in prime Main Street location. The entire memorial is elevated to the height that you can view the entire city. The best view is looking at the union station. Great view for picture. We did not go to museum and the tower. There is extra fees for it. The tower line in long due to space in the elevator and wait time. Overall is a good memorial park. Great place for festival. Although the entire place has not much of cover but the tower provides some shade area.

My nephew who has lived here a long time said this is one of the must see spots in KC. It is a beautiful memorial and very somber. There is also a spectacular view of the city that you get from here. Trust one of our not-so-smart fellow humans to climb on the wall and create a scene when there were clear signs everywhere to not do that which caused security to come rushing out.

What is there to say about the WWI museum. I am not a history buff but came for my husband. This place was mesmerizing. It was so quiet, still and calm even with the many visitors that were visiting. Even outside was quiet. Don't miss seeing the amazing views from the observation tower. Gift shop was great and seemed very reasonable price wise.

I made time for a quick (too quick!) visit to the National WWI Museum and Memorial when I was in Kansas City for a work conference, and I'm so glad I did. The memorial (above the museum) is beautiful and has a great view of the city. The museum is very comprehensive - from the causes to the battles to the losses to the lasting effects (WWII). It has incredible artifacts (planes, uniforms, etc.) and great information. I learned a lot from my visit. I loved that to enter the museum's main exhibit hall, you walk across a glass bridge above a field of 9,000 (fake, not real) red poppies, which represent 1,000 combatant deaths. The museum reopened after a renovation in 2006, but some rooms were closed to renovations when I visited. Still, I learned a lot about the war and definitely recommend anyone interested in history visit the museum if/when you visit Kansas City!

This place is amazing!!!! It truly transports you back in time. The museum can create an emotional experience if you truly immerse yourself in the exhibits. I highly recommend this place.

This place is incredible. You don't even have to be into WWII history and you'll enjoy this museum. There is so much to see and you almost get lost in the place with going up and down in multiple building. There are some very large exhibits and stuff you won't see anywhere else. I would always suggest this for a stop in NOLA

Now this is a museum that probably isn't for everyone because it really puts in perspective what people went through during WWI. The experience here brings a hush over the visitors as you absorb what happened and some of the exhibits actually put you in the perspective of a soldier on the front lines. It can be a harrowing experience for some, but the educational benefits of museums like this can show the decisions that put our world in this predicament. Those that don't learn from their history, are doomed to repeat it. I will say this isn't something I'd visit more than once every few years, but for a couple hours of learning about the history of the Great War for only $18, I'd say it was worth it. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/6X_5cDClGus

This review is for the tower only as we did not have time to go through the museum! But the area itself is Very beautiful and nicely kept. We saw groups taking wedding photos there as well. We just did a quick stop to see the outside, take a nice walk, and go up the tower! You can see a great view of the city without going up the tower but an even better view at the top. The tower is $6 to go up or an extra $3 if you bought the museum ticket. Once in the tower, they take you up an elevator and then you will climb 3 flights of stairs. There is then a 360 view of KC! Be ready for lots of wind! But was definitely cool to check out if you're already there! The staff was also very friendly and patient and parking was very easy. Would recommend checking out!

I went to visit the museum and do the VR experience. The staff was friendly and very helpful. However, the whole museum focused on the most negative aspects of war. I expected the VR experience to be historical, but it seemed like a horror movie and gave me a panic attack. They need to have a PTSD warning or a summary of the story. I agree there are terrible and terrifying parts of WWI. There were also numerous hero's and beautiful stories that casting everyone as a shell shocked mess is disrespectful to their memory and extends the stigma on mental health.

We made a stop in Kansas City on our way from Minnesota to Colorado primarily so we could come to this museum. The grounds and museum itself are beautiful and well maintained. The staff were very friendly and enthusiastic to discuss topics or answer questions. Other reviews mentioned that it could take a long time to go through the museum so we budgeted the better part of a day, but it only took our family of four about 2 hours to tour the museum and go to the top of the tower. We didn't read EVERYTHING on display and we went during off-peak season on a Sunday right away when they opened, so they weren't very busy. A must see if you're in the area.

Well laid out museum with friendly staff who are happy to answer questions and help guide you through the exhibits. The tower is an extra special addition and I highly recommend adding this to your ticket for an additional fee. The elevator takes you most of the way up and down with a few steps to the very top. If I lived closer I would definitely be a member and visit the special exhibits regularly. Plan for at least 2-3 hours to enjoy this museum. We spent 4 hours there easily but went through each exhibit and watched most videos. The grounds are also lovely and it is a block walk to Union Station which is worth the visit as well. The gift shop is very tiny but has some good finds still. I appreciated the free water in the cafe too as so many museums make you purchase expensive bottles.

Take the time to visit this. I got there around 1230 on a Friday in July. If you.want to go up in the Obelisk purchase your ticket and do that first, beautiful view of Kansas City (pictures taken there). You take an elevator up then go 45 steps to the view point. Next up the museum, there is a 12 minute movie, do not miss this, or the video at the end. So much stuff, the donations to this museum are wonderful. 2 walls on either side gives you the history playbook. The maps, uniforms, helmets, artillery is extensive, a lot of reading. The floor below the museum has many objects, on the wall is letters a father wrote to his son who was an ariel observer, his dad was an artist every envelope he sent to his son was a work of art, the son saved them and they are framed on the wall. The restaurant there was reasonably priced.

Very detailed exhibits featuring American History displayed through thousands of artifacts. Attwndants are very knowledgeable. Somber reminder of the cruelties of war.

I really enjoyed the museum and monument. Its grounds are filled with lush green grass and reflection pools at the base of the monument tower. Inside the museum had a ton of information and displays. Some people complained that it was too small in other reviews, but I disagree. I thought it was a good size and provided a plethora of information and facts. Seeing all the war items on display is very humbling. I would definitely recommend checking it out. Make sure that you pay the extra $4 to go to the top of the tower,the 360° view of KC is totally worth it!!

If you are a history buff or interested in learning about WWI, the National WWI Museum and Memorial is a must-visit in Kansas City. The exhibits are well done, interactive, and convey the tragedy and horrors of war. I highly recommend seeing The Pantheon de la Guerre mural, which depicts the faces of thousands of soldiers who died in the war. Pay a bit extra for the 217 ft. tall Liberty Memorial Tower, which gives you a great view of Kansas City.

I was in town doing the tourist thing so I stopped to see this big beautiful tower. A ticket to go up was only $8. Most of it was elevator but there were about equivalent to 2 flights of steps to get to the outside landing. It was open with a big half wall so you don't fall. Not a lot of room. It's not a place to hang out at. But the view of the city of Kansas City was spectacular! It was something to see! Go do it!

Definitely recommend, but the walk up the hill is not for the faint of heart! The museum stayed open late for AP readers during our stay in Kansas City and we are so thankful they did because it was so amazing! They have beautiful exhibits, wonderful volunteers and a fantastic gift shop. If you have a few hours to spend you need to check it out. We did a whirlwind trip through and next time we are seriously dedicating an entire day to this amazing site! Thank you to all the incredible volunteers who took time out of their day to hang out with nerdy history teachers so we could geek out over all the exhibits!

Was stopping by for a day off of work. Spent hours walking and reading, along with a couple videos that I found interesting.

Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it! I visited the WW1 Museum & Memorial in Kansas City, MO last week - amazing experience. It's very different because if you think about it, in most museums they have a plethora of WW2 history/artifacts but not much from WW1 (perhaps given the US's late involvement in WW1), but anyways.... A great experience for anyone who can appreciate history, the museum has plenty of uniforms, weapons, memorabilia and other items from the war, along with short films documenting the timeline and life size replicas of the trenches. You can also go to the top of the memorial for a great view of downtown KC for a small additional charge. The volunteers who help run the museum are all very friendly (and mostly veterans - thank you for your service!) and would love to answer any questions you'd have. Coming from Chicago, the museum is on the smaller size in comparison to what we have here, but it's still great. Highly recommended to visit at least once.

Parking is pretty easy here. It's also a nice place to take a walk in the nice afternoon and the museum where you can learn the knowledge about World War I. Also, for people who like to do family picture and wedding picture, you can see people here taking photos

This museum is the most amazing place. It is very well laid out and engaging. I had my 19 year old ASD son and my 10 year old grandson with me. Both were highly interested in all the artifacts, history, and interactive activities. The staff and volunteers LOVE to engage and are full of valuable knowledge.

A very nice way to honor WWI veterans and to see the city (Kansas City MO) and to see the huge phallic symbol called the Liberty Memorial. Freud would have had a field day! May the city enjoy lots of inspiration. It's beautiful at night and you can take really breathtaking pics. There doesn't seem to be a curfew for this area so feel free to enjoy he sights anytime. And go see the museum.

We happened upon the National WW1 Museum during a swim meet weekend in Lenexa, KS. My son really likes history, but mostly WW2 history. He was pretty skeptical about coming here since he had already gone to the WW2 museum recently. Still, we decided to check it out since we were in town and had some free time. Walking towards the museum, the architecture is really interesting. There were many great photos taken on the outside of the museum for sure! Inside, it was pretty quiet. There was definitely a lot to see and learn. My favorite part of the museum was the replica of Flanders field of poppies. We can only see it from the bridge area as we tried our best to get down to it! If you're interested in history, you should definitely check this place out!

You have to go if you're in the KC area! Even if you're not, consider going! I've been to some really good museums around the world ... this is no exception. This is one of the most engaging museums in a long line of quality history preservers and awareness providers.

Wonderful museum and monument focused on the war to end all wars...and sadly one which our youth don't know enough about...9 million dead...but less than 1% of those were US because we stayed out until the end.. Incredible collection of artifacts! A great view into the life in the trenches and the weapons used, and the devastating loss of life. Educational and moving...definitely worth a visit.

A must see. The volunteers are friendly and very knowledgeable. We spent 4 hours, and we didn't see most of it! Lots of great exhibits! We're planning on returning so we can see what we missed! A good history lesson in a great atmosphere.

This a a great museum, very comprehensive and well curated. Touring this museum will give you a lot of information about the war. It features a large timeline that has a lot of detail about important events of the war. The timeline would take a long time to read on its own. I wish I would have asked if they have a take home version. I didn't want to spend the time reading the whole thing there but I'd loved to have read it later. They have a section showing equipment (and artillery) from each of the major combatants. They have examples showing trench warfare. I only spent about an hour and a half here, but could have easily stayed longer.

Was an amazing museum. It's super cool they are letting veterans and those who are currently serving in for free with their dependents. I would like to come back without kids so I can read more and enjoy it more!

Ted was amazing. Loved the tour. Will visit again after Memorial Day improvements are completed.

Beautiful part of history. Clean facilities and friendly and helpful staff. Connected the dots and answered a lot of questions regarding the history of the war and all involved. Would suggest a few hours to spare to do the Tour, so you're at your own pace

Took an opportunity to visit national world war I museum. There's a lot of artifacts in this facility. Cost for an adult was $18 plus $6 to go up the tower which was an elevator ride and 45 steps. The winds can be strong up at the top and it's completely opened there, however it gives you a good perspective of the area around. To make it more of an interesting thing, hard at Union station in walk up to the monument and the grass path behind the facility all the way up to the top. There are two other exhibits at the top of the venue adjacent to the entrance way to the tower, however, those are separate ticketed. Access within the facility was very friendly to the mobility challenged folks. It was very educational and to volunteers and workers were extremely engaging to share with you information that they know about the various exhibits. The walking cane that was created from an airplane propeller was an interesting highlight. I think the parking at the museum may be free. However, I did not check. Parking at Union station that cost 10 bucks but might had been due to a special event going on there.

I consider this museum akin to the WWII museum in New Orleans (reviewed separately). It's the best one out there. I am a history nerd, but in general, knew very little about WWI other than it was started by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. First, I recommend you watch the introductory film. I'm not always a museum film person, but this one helps prepare you, and will later help you internalize it all. The museum is bursting with artifacts. Soldier uniforms of all kinds (British, Turkish, Russian, and even African). It also presents numerous weapons, from pistols to rifles to missiles to tanks. It does a great job of using multi-media to lay out a clear timeline of the war, as well as an outline of motivations behind each segment of the war. You actually learn why, in smaller and more easily digestible bits, the war happened and progressed as it did. One of my favorite parts was the reflecting booths, where you could listen to music, poems, etc. from the time. You really could visualize what it would be like to be there. There was also an amazing exhibit on black soldiers and Jim Crow during my visit. I also did the tower, which has panoramic views of Kansas City. Both the black soldier exhibit and the tower had separate ticket fees (though I bought them all at once on a single e-ticket). All staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. This museum really taught me a lot. Wish I could go back now that I've had time to reflect. Maybe I will. You should visit too! Totally worthwhile.

Our main reason for coming to Kansas City was to see the museum. We were not disappointed. The buildings are well maintained. The exhibits amazing. Truly tells the story of the war. The staff/volunteers are also wonderful. Friendly and informative. They really love thier museum. I was apprehensive about walking over the glass floor and was offered an alternative back way into the exhibit. Just so caring of my phobia. Thank you!

We decided to come visit this museum since we were in the area. We came super late in the day and was worried about not being able to enjoy the place. We were able to find parking just fine and get tickets. We even got to up to the tower which was awesome. All of the staff members here are super nice. They had so many things to look at and everything was well preserved. The museum itself was also in great shape and super clean. The tower viewing is awesome with an awesome view of the city. Great place to take photos and even saw several wedding parties taking photos. Pretty cool to check out. Get here early in the day as there is plenty to look at!

We went on Memorial Day and are so happy to have come. 1. Free for active duty and veterans. Half price for adults 2. See and learn a lot of the history behind WW1. We learn so much about WWII that sometimes we forget 3. Docents available to answer any questions. 4. Lots of street parking available around the beautiful grassy park area. 5. Definitely worth it to buy tickets for the Memorial Tower where you will see beautiful views. Note: It is windy up there A must must visit when coming to Kansas City

In high school we barely learned about WW1, so I was interested in visiting g this museum. When you enter you watch a 10 minute film giving you the background of the world at the time and what started the war, who was on which side etc. then you wander galleries and see real artifacts and read loads of information. It was so fascinating and well laid out. Loved the experience.

You could arguably say this is THE main Kansas City attraction as an exclusive exhibit for World War I history. It's very well done and visitors of any age will find something of interest. However, some exhibits--especially film segments--may be too intense for young children. It can be very busy during summer months and around special military observances.

One of the best museum in the country located here at the heart of downtown Kansas City. It sits high above a hill. At night, great view of the city lights. From the back of the museum, you can view the front of Union Station. Great exhibits inside and if your not afraid of height, be sure to go up the tower for a view of the city. During Fourth of July, the City of Kansas City will hold their annual Stars and Stripes picnic with free concerts, activities, food trucks and spectacular fireworks from the front lawn.

A really good spot to visit where you can take a photo of the city skyline. Hope you enjoy

Fabulous museum, great scenic view of KC. The poppy field is a great touch. Take a few hours, learn what real hardship is, then make sure to buy a poppy in November.

I have been in museums all over the world, and I have never been in one so loud and disrespectful to those who gave their lives in a war. The museum's installations are good, I wish I could have enjoyed them! Instead, I was forced to listen to LOUD tour guides putting up a show for the groups of high-schoolers who were there on a field trip. The kids themselves were fairly quiet and respectful of the space, I wish the museum personnel would have been as well!! Let's start treating young adults as such, and not as children with a 1-second attention span. You do not need to make war "entertaining", you do not need to yell "BOOM" for them to understand that bombs are loud, you do not need to yell "one gold star for you" through a megaphone when they answer a question correctly. Places like this should teach our youth about history, and about respecting it. War is not a game and should not be presented as such. I am appalled by the experienced we had in this place.

Really beautiful memorial in the middle of the city. Does feel a little old and outdated but wonderful to see

Really well done museum. Love how they organized their collection and showcased the different trenches of WWI. The center of the museum where it opens up to a battlefield scene with a video was really cool.