Sight guide · Kansas City · United States
Visiting National WWI Museum and Memorial
Designated by Congress as America's official First World War museum, it opens with a glass bridge over a field of 9,000 poppies, each representing 1,000 combatant deaths.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stephen Edmonds, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
National WWI Museum and Memorial is a museum in Crown Center, Kansas City. Allow 3–4 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Crown Center
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, rainy day and views
- Best months
- April–June
About National WWI Museum and Memorial
Designated by Congress as America's official First World War museum, it opens with a glass bridge over a field of 9,000 poppies, each representing 1,000 combatant deaths. The galleries cover the war from 1914 with trenches, weapons and letters, and the Liberty Memorial Tower above has an observation deck looking straight down to Union Station and the skyline.
Tip: Walk out onto the memorial lawn at the top of the hill at sunset; it is free and gives the city's classic skyline view.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 3–4 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Crown Center, converted warehouses full of galleries, coffee roasters and restaurants south of downtown.
Best time to visit National WWI Museum and Memorial
National WWI Museum and Memorial is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- April: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- June: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, busy crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-May the sun sets at about 20:24 local time (calculated for Kansas City).
When to visit Kansas City has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Kansas City itinerary visits National WWI Museum and Memorial on day 1, together with Union Station and Science City, Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life at Crown Center and Chiefs or Royals game at the Truman Sports Complex.
- No. 1 of the 17 sights in our Kansas City things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- One of the picks in museums in Kansas City.
- One of the picks in kansas City on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Kansas City.
Near National WWI Museum and Memorial
Also in Crown Center, so you can walk between them:
- Union Station and Science City — 1 hour; 3 hours with Science City, low cost
- Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life at Crown Center — 2–3 hours, mid-priced
If you like National WWI Museum and Memorial
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art — Country Club Plaza, 2–3 hours
- Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — 18th & Vine Jazz District, 1.5–2 hours
- American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room — 18th & Vine Jazz District, 1–2 hours, plus a show
- Arabia Steamboat Museum — River Market, 1.5 hours
Staying near National WWI Museum and Memorial
Stay in Crossroads Arts District ($$$) to walk here: converted warehouses full of galleries, coffee roasters and restaurants south of downtown. All areas to stay in Kansas City.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at National WWI Museum and Memorial?
Plan 3–4 hours. With Union Station and Science City nearby, it fits a half-day in Crown Center.
+Is National WWI Museum and Memorial free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit National WWI Museum and Memorial?
April–June, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Walk out onto the memorial lawn at the top of the hill at sunset; it is free and gives the city's classic skyline view.
+Do I need to book National WWI Museum and Memorial in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.