Our Aug. 15 program has been postponed.

This evening won’t go up in smoke; we look forward to talking about WWI and cannabis with you in the near future. Stay tuned here for more information because history is dope!

[POSTPONED]

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024

 

Dark green background with translucent green smoky shapes layered over translucent marijuana leaves and a pattern made of translucent text repeating slang terms for marijuana such as dope, Mary Jane, weed, grass, etc. Foreground text: 'Operation Reefer Madness / a Blunt History of Cannabis since WWI'.

Known by many names,

and equally favored and feared across generations, the cloudy past of America's forbidden flower continues to elude and allure us. In an evening of high spirits and hazy history, explore the evolution of cannabis use and its prohibition since the WWI era with industry experts and scholars.

A panel conversation will be led by Isaac Campos (author and historian), Todd Scattini (co-founder of Hemp for Victory), Brian James (general manager at ReLeaf Resources Marijuana Dispensary) and Josh Mitchem (CLOVR Cannabis CEO).

Guests will have the opportunity to sample non-infused edibles and participate in a guided olfactory experience with ganjier Josh Ordo from ReLeaf Resources Marijuana Dispensary.

  • No cannabis products will be onsite for consumption or sale during the program.
  • Smoking and vaping are not permitted inside the Museum and Memorial or anywhere on its exterior building.
  • Seating for the panel conversation will be available inside the Lobby and Auditorium on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • Food and drink are not permitted inside the Auditorium, but are allowed inside the Lobby.


[POSTPONED]
Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024

6-8:30 p.m.

 

National WWI Museum and Memorial
Auditorium and Lobby

 

$45 per person
This event is 21+ only.

Hosted in partnership with

ReLeaf Resources Marijuana Dispensary

CLOVR Cannabis

Hemp for Victory

The EVOLUTION Magazine

Christopher Elbow Chocolates

KC Cann Transport

NORML

Canna Convict

Canna Care

Heartland Labs

Vivid Cannabis

Vertical Cannabis

Prairie Band LLC

Veterans Community Project

Missouri Veterans Commission

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Division of Cannabis Regulation

Lifted Spirits

Signature Series

Past Operations

Curious about the WWI history and culture we've explored in past signature Operation events? Scroll on.

Image: Stylized silhouette of a female figure wearing a headwrap and dress, gazing upwards and gesturing at a mass of golden sparkles drifting up. Text: Operation Celestial Spirits / March 31

Fate. Mystery. Fortune. Events that cause mass change and uncertainty make us even more likely to try to find meaning in our universe.

Featuring heavenly beverages crafted by Kenny Cohrs and readings with divination practitioners. Curator Patricia Cecil conversed with Maddox Gui, Vice President of Programming of the Aquarian Organization of Astrologers, on astrological and metaphysical practices that reached new heights of popularity during WWI and are taking off again today.

Photo album

Modern photograph of three women seated on a stage around a low table with a large astrology wheel projected behind them. The woman in the center is a young short-haired East Asian woman gesturing and speaking to the audience.
Black wnd white photograph of five young white men in WWI military uniform sitting in a row at a table, toasting the viewer with large pint glasses of beer.

Our first virtual offering of the Operation series, featuring a lively 30-minute moderated conversation between KC Bier Co. founder Steve Holle and Rockhurst University economics professor Dr. Martin Stack. Attendees discovered how America’s favorite brews’ tastes have changed over time and how their drinking rituals might have been impacted by the Great War - while cracking open cold ones from KC Bier Co. Bier Boxes that were discounted specially for this event.

Cropped scan of a painting depicting a red-haired, white woman in a sleeveless red dress and large red-feathered hat, framed by a gold gilt frame as she playfully pours champagne into an overflowing champagne flute.

We uncorked the season with a champagne-soaked evening of food, knowledge and revelry as we toasted the centennial year of the Armistice! Master Sommelier Doug Frost led guests through the connections between WWI and champagne while they enjoyed seasonal sips and tastings from Rye, Extra Virgin, Ça Va, the Restaurant at 1900 and Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room.

Photo album

Modern photograph of a middle-aged white woman in a stylish brown blazer holding a champagne coupe glass up for someone out of the frame who is pouring champagne from a bottle into the glass. Several other women guests stand in line waiting for their turn.

 

Background: View of the legs of a person wearing a long brown skirt. Behind them several red flags emblazoned with cyrillic characters wave. Text: Operation Romanov

At the centennial of the Russian Revolution, guests imbibed in a vodka-infused revolutionary look at prohibition in Russia during WWI and the rise of local distilleries. Museum President and CEO Dr. Matthew Naylor, author/historian Patricia Herlihy and Tom’s Town Distillery’s David Epstein gathered for a discussion with drinks featuring Tom’s Town Distillery and Restless Spirits. 

(Hors d'oeuvres for guests included pickled herring on black Russian rye toast points, smoked salmon blintzes, classic Georgian cucumber salad, and a potato skins bar.)

Map of French wine-making regions. Text: Operation Vin

We explored wines that became popular with Allied soldiers during World War I. This event featured returning-favorite Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Doug Frost (one of only four people in the world to earn both titles), who discussed the enduring impact of wines that originated from the Western Front.

Photo album

Modern photo of three smiling, light brown-skinned women in casual cocktail outfits posing on the Glass Bridge with glasses of wine in their hands.
Cartoon silhouettes of chefs carrying food around. Text: Operation War Fare

The Museum and Memorial's WWI-themed Iron Chef-style cooking competition went even more international in 2016. This year’s event featured "The Chew" contributor, "MasterChef Australia" star and "Dude Food" author Dan Churchill, Kansas City native and chef/owner at New York City restaurant Speedy Romeo Justin Bazdarich, Renee Kelly of Renee Kelly’s Harvest, Grünauer’s Nic Bandelier and James-Beard nominated Room 39 owner Ted Habiger.

Photo album

Modern photograph of two young white chefs cooking and plating trays of hors d'oeuvres in the Museum and Memorial's main corridor.
Background: drawings of people dressed in WWI-era lingerie. Text: Operation Undressed

From corsets to camisoles, history reveals that World War I changed everything about undergarments. Guests attended a limited-seating one-night exhibition showcasing the progression of lingerie from the late 1800s through the present day, curated by Peregrine Honig of Birdies Lingerie in collaboration with the Kansas City Museum, pairing live models with contemporary lighting to reveal the collection's boning and infrastructure. The event also included an engaging discussion with Honig, Museum and Memorial President and CEO Dr. Matthew Naylor and Kansas City Museum Executive Director Anna Marie Tutera.

Photo album

Modern photograph of several young, slim models of different skin tones and genders, seated in a row in the Auditorium Lobby, wearing vintage and vintage-inspired lingerie and undergarments. They are dimly illuminated by dozens of tea candles in glass cups and vases.
Stylized illustration of a person sitting inside a stemmed glass. Text: Operation Hard Core

A jubilant historical exploration of the reemergence of cider as one of the world’s most popular beverages, featuring Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Doug Frost. The event featured a tasting flight including offerings from Ace Cider, Cidre Artisanal Bigoud, Crispin and imported Dupont Cider from France.

Photo album

Modern photograph of two young white women in cocktail attire posing on the Glass Bridge. One woman has spiky pink hair and is drinking from a glass bottle of cider, while the other is smiling and holding her bottle up for the viewer to see.
Background: stylized cartoon of a tattoo artist giving a tattoo to a person sitting in a chair. Both have decorated arms. Text: Operation Ink

A tattoo is defined as “the act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legends, etc., by making punctures in it and inserting pigments.” The simplistic definition avoids the fact that, as a form of expression, tattoos are undefinable.

Guests attended an unregrettable evening of fun, food, spirits and exploration of the evolution of tattoos – featuring the Tattoo Historian Anna Friedman and Whispering Danny of Whispering Danny Exile Tattoos. Ryan Maybee of The Rieger Hotel provided sample cocktails for the event, while The Local Pig shared a sampling of its award-winning food.

Photo album

Modern photograph of two older white men and a white woman seated on the Auditorium stage. One white man is speaking to the audience, gesturing with his shirtsleeves rolled back to show his forearm tattoo sleeves. The woman is wearing a knee-length sheath dress that reveals tattoos on her calves.
Background: Stylized cartoon of WWI soldiers bent over a plate of fish. Text: War Fare

Kansas City chefs competed for the War Fare Cup in the second annual Iron Chef-style event, hosted this year by Room 39 chef Ted Habiger, with each restaurant providing free samples of World War I-related food. Competitors included Martin Heuser (Affäre), Nic Bandelier (Grünauer), Renee Kelly (Renee Kelly's Harvest) and Matt Arnold (Webster House).

Background: Abstract paint strokes in shades of cocoa. Text: Whiskey & Chocolate

Soldiers fighting in World War I weren’t afforded many luxuries, but chocolate and whiskey were among them. 

Guests joined acclaimed chocolatiers René Bollier (André's Confiserie Suisse) and Christopher Elbow (Christopher Elbow Artisan Chocolates) and whiskey expert Ryan Maybee (J. Rieger & Co. Whiskey/Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange) for an evening of chocolate and whiskey tastings as well as a brief history on the role of luxury goods during World War I.

Photo album

Modern photograph of a table set up at the back of the Auditorium, which is filled with people. The table is loaded with many small plates which each have whiskey shots and chocolates on them.
Yellow background. Text: War Fare Chow Challenge

Chefs from Affäre, Grünauer, Room 39 and Webster House competed for the Chow Challenge Cup in an Iron Chef-style event using rations from central and allied powers, as attendees tasted samples of World War I-related food. While the chefs displayed their culinary skills, noted culinary historian Andrea Broomfield shared the food history of WWI and how it not only changed the way we eat today, but should merit a second look for our current dinner tables.

Photo album

Modern photograph of two white men in chef's uniforms, cooking onstage in the Auditorium in front of a packed audience.

 

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