National World War I Museum and Memorial

The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, combines a museum of the First World War with the Liberty Memorial, an imposing commemorative tower and memorial complex. The site is both a museum and a national memorial.

Exhibition galleries document the global conflict through artifacts, personal histories, multimedia displays and scholarship; the Liberty Memorial tower provides an observation level with views over Kansas City and serves as the site’s focal point. The grounds include commemorative sculpture and outdoor memorial spaces.

The Liberty Memorial and associated museum were established in the early 20th century as a civic memorial to those who served in World War I; the museum received national recognition from the U.S. Congress and has developed its collections and exhibitions to serve as a research and educational institution.

Located near downtown Kansas City, Missouri, the complex sits on a prominent site above the city and is accessible by road and local transit.

• Memorial tower: The memorial tower is 217 feet tall and is the visual focal point of the site, completed and dedicated in the 1920s as a World War I memorial.
• National designation: Designated by the U.S. Congress as the nation's official World War I museum, the institution combines the memorial with museum collections and research facilities.

What to See #

• Liberty Memorial Tower: The Liberty Memorial tower rises above the complex and includes an observation level that offers views over downtown Kansas City.
• Museum galleries: Museum exhibition galleries present thematic permanent and temporary displays on the global conflict, its causes, campaigns and consequences.