Kansas City has much to offer those who are passionate about history, including parents, educators and children! Check out the following museums and attractions for some unforgettable journeys through local and national history.
An iconic monument of the Kansas City skyline since 1926, Liberty Memorial boasts National World War I Museum and Memorial, a world-class museum dedicated to teaching the history of the Great War and its impact on our nation and the world. Currently, the museum has several special exhibits, including “Sacred Service,” a detailed look into the religious servicemen who ministered to troops on all sides of the conflict; and “Votes and Voices”, a peek into women’s history during World War I and how women's experiences shaped the nation. I also highly recommend purchasing an extra ticket for the immersive virtual reality experience “Choctaw Code Talkers 1918.” Presented in XR360, viewers (who must be age 10+) will be transported to France in 1918 as soldiers from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma help turn the tide of the war by communicating over battlefield phones in their native language. After exploring all that the museum has to offer, be sure to head across the street to Kansas City’s grand Union Station. Visitors can see the construction of this historic landmark unfold at visual kiosks throughout the beautifully restored building. My kids enjoy wandering through the Model Train Exhibit off the Grand Plaza, then heading outside to the Freight House Bridge to watch the trains roar below them on the tracks. Before heading home, check out the lesser-known National Archives housed next door to Union Station. There, you can delve deeper into your own genealogy or visit the superb “We the People” exhibit, which chronicles our nation’s civic history while also highlighting the common American experience.
A gem of the 18th & Vine district, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is must-visit piece of Kansas City history. In 2006, it was officially designated by the U.S. Congress as “America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.” It is dedicated to telling the story of Black baseball and ensuring every generation can celebrate its importance in American sports as well as its impact on society—and much of the story took place right here in Kansas City. Also located in the same historic building is the American Jazz Museum, a popular destination for both musicians and historians.
Shawnee Town 1929 will open for the season in March. As usual, it has a great calendar of events planned for the year. At the popular “History on Tap” lecture series, adults can enjoy a local brew while learning something new about our local history. Stop in at the Farmhouse, where you can see varying period food preparation demonstrations throughout the season. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer, check out the always-popular Time Travelers Children’s Program, where kids can learn a new period craft, participate in farm chores or enjoy special events! My kids love feeding the chickens and helping harvest the bounties from the working garden. My favorite summer program is the outdoor series “Jammin’ on the Green,” which highlights local jazz musicians.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site is another great place for children to immerse themselves in the history of our region. Mahaffie offers a plethora of living history programs for young and old alike. Visitors can take a ride on a real stagecoach and relive the days when the Farmstead was a stop along the Sante Fe, Oregon and California Trails. They can also watch the blacksmith at work, or sample a meal that would have been prepared for stagecoach passengers in the cool basement kitchen that doubled as a dining hall. Mahaffie offers many homeschool programs throughout the year, so be sure to check out the calendar of events on their website. I especially loved stepping back in time at the “A Toast to General Washington” evening hosted for Presidents Day.
A trip to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Mo., is a must. In the summer of 2021, the Truman Library reopened after a major renovation and upgrade. The focus of the updated museum is on a cinematic immersion into U.S. and world history. Tru History is a sound-and-light theater production that relates some of the most dramatic chapters of WWI and Cold War history in a new and exciting medium. The museum exhibitions include more than 230 artifacts and hundreds of documents, letters and facsimiles. Other features include a 14-foot interactive globe, a role-playing Cold War game and exhibits on Truman’s family life and legacy. Truman was a longtime resident of Independence, and you can visit his home, which became known as the “Summer White House.” After President Truman’s death, his wife entrusted the home to the National Park Service to preserve, protect and educate future Americans. Pro tip: be sure to purchase tickets for the Truman Home at the nearby Visitors Center—a Park Ranger will then walk over with your group for the tour.
About an hour outside Kansas City is Atchison, Kan., birthplace of the legendary Amelia Earhart. Within easy driving distance of the metro, fans can visit Earhart’s childhood home or discover more about her life and aviation legacy at the new Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, located at the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport. Opened in 2023, the Hangar Museum’s main attraction is the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E, which is identical to the aircraft Earhart was piloting when she tragically and mysteriously disappeared in 1937. The museum also boasts fourteen interactive STEM exhibits that will take visitors on a fascinating journey through Earhart’s life and accomplishments.
