Press Release

During four brutal years of the Great War, nearly 9 million people were held as prisoners of war at some point during the conflict. From the shores of Southeast Asia and the Siberian tundra, to mere miles from the Western Front, they were imprisoned the world over – by both sides. Seldom told, their experiences are some of the most common during the Great War. Captured, opening at the National WWI Museum and Memorial on Friday, Oct. 28, delves into the stories of life behind the wire: relationships among the prisoners and between the prisoners and their captors, a complex and unique dynamic of mundane daily life and the arduous conditions of captivity.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced today the appointment of Dr. Christopher Warren as the organization’s Vice President of Collections and Senior Curator, effective August 8.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced it has been issued a $2 million challenge grant from The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The Mabee Foundation issues challenge grants to both require and inspire widespread public support and act as a catalyst to assist grantees in reaching their fundraising goals.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial and KC RiverFest will join forces for an Independence Day Celebration and fireworks display like never before. In partnership with Cumulus Radio, the public is invited to celebrate our nation’s independence at the Stars and Stripes Picnic on Saturday, July 2.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial serves as a fitting place to give honor and special recognize to the individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving their country. Admission to the Museum and Memorial is free for veterans and active-duty military personnel, while general admission for the public is half-price all weekend (Friday-Monday, May 27-30).

Special exhibition highlights the central role of African Americans in advocating for their rights following the end of the Civil War to the end of World War I.

This May, the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) returns to the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial with the AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall. The Wall was last at the Museum and Memorial in 2015 and drew crowds of over 50,000 in just four days.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced a gift of $1 million from Brad and Libby Bergman to create a dedicated open storage and learning space. When coupled with a new staircase from the main level, these improvements will allow the Museum and Memorial to showcase thousands of objects currently in secure storage and provide the opportunity for visitors to see behind the scenes of museum operations.

The Museum and Memorial announces grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to conduct a two-week residential Summer Institute for 28 K-12 educators. The Institute, World War I in the Middle East, will be held at the Museum and Memorial on July 10-22, 2022.

In commemoration of Veterans Day, the National WWI Museum and Memorial serves as a fitting place to honor those who have served — and continue to serve — our country. To recognize these men and women, admission to the Museum and Memorial is free for veterans and active duty military personnel from Thursday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 14. General admission for the public is half-price.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced that the virtual reality experience War Remains will be extended through Dec. 31, 2021. War Remains was gifted to the Museum and Memorial by Gigi Pritzker and Madison Wells, and has sold out virtually every day since it opened in May.

Empires at War: Austria and Russia examines the conflict on the Eastern Front, an aspect of the war often less surveyed but with cataclysmic results for the millions affected. Although the Museum and Memorial has been collecting internationally since 1920, material culture from the Eastern Front of the war has been difficult to acquire. The commemoration of the Centennial of WWI brought opportunities to reengage the international community and enrich the collection, shedding new light on the enduring impact of war on the Eastern Front.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced today the appointment of Patricia Cecil as the organization’s first Specialist Curator for Faith, Religion and WWI.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial serves as a fitting place to give honor and special recognize to the individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving their country. Admission to the Museum and Memorial is free for veterans and active-duty military personnel, while general admission for the public is half-price all weekend (Friday-Monday, May 28-31).

The National WWI Museum and Memorial will reopen Liberty Memorial Tower and the Edward Jones Research Center after more than a year of being closed due to the global health crisis.