Relive History at Liberty Memorial

Any history buffs in your family? Do you have out-of-town visitors looking to visit a unique national museum? Or maybe you want to excite your kids' curiosity about the conflict that changed the world forever. You can see it all at the Liberty Memorial.

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Liberty Memorial and National WWI Museum

100 W 26^th St

Kansas City, MO

816.784.1918

www.theworldwar.org

Any history buffs in your family? Do you have out-of-town visitors looking to visit a unique national museum? Or maybe you want to excite your kids' curiosity about the conflict that changed the world forever. You can see it all at the Liberty Memorial.

The Tower In 1926, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the 217-foot Liberty Memorial tower, built "in honor of those who served in the world war in defense of liberty and our country." The tower is flanked by two sphinxes-one facing toward Europe, and one facing toward the future. Ascend the tower for a dazzling view of the city.

The Museum Steps below the tower lead to the world-class national museum, the only one in the country devoted exclusively to the Great War. Inside, walk to your right to experience the war years chronologically. Exhibits progress counterclockwise to give you a feel for what happened in each era. Galleries are filled with the details of soldiers' lives-uniforms, packs, personal items, and of course the weapons men carried on both sides of the conflict.

In addition to viewing exhibits behind glass, you can walk right up to cannons, howitzers, and the mortars they fired. Duck inside a trench on the Western front and stand in the crater of a bombed-out building. Real flying-ace airplanes soar overhead, and don't miss the Renault tank, exhibited with the shell fragments that disabled it in 1918.

Be a Part of It This museum is a multimedia treat. Visitors can read the story of the war in chronologies and posters; listen to stories, music, and poems from generals to GIs; and watch short films that immerse them in history. Kids will love the interactive rooms, where they'll learn about weapons and take them apart in a real-time, virtual environment. They can also plan their own battles and see the consequences of their decisions (you'll need a museum guide's help with this). Or have them design their own WW I poster or memorial and e-mail it to their home computer.

If you're worried this collection will bore your child, James Barkley, the museum's Education Coordinator, will set your mind at rest. He admits that kids 10 and older get the most out of the exhibits, but he insists "there's something for every age group." Of the 29,000 students he's hosted at the museum, he claims, "I've never failed to hook a kid." The museum guides are happy to help you find things to interest everyone in your family.

The Extras Don't pass up the excellent gift shop! And if all this learning leaves you hungry, head to the Over There Café, offering lunchtime fare in a casual atmosphere.

What You Need to Know Tickets range from $6-$12 depending on the age. The museum is open daily this summer through Labor Day. (During the school year, the museum is closed on Mondays, except for holidays.) And, a free Family Guide is available for the Museum’s younger visitors; it sends kids on a scavenger hunt through the Museum.