The World's First Museum Dedicated To BBQ Opens In Kansas City Tomorrow

Forbes

11-04-2025

Commenting on the size of the drinks at Arthur Bryant's Barbecue restaurant, President Barrack Obama ... More (middle), prepared to sit down to talk and eat with Victor Fugate (left), Mark Turner, and Becky Forrest (right) during a visit to Kansas City on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. (Shane Keyser/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
When I think of Kansas City, Missouri, several things stand out. The city boasts a vibrant African American heritage and has been a welcoming ground for talented jazz musicians. Additionally, it is home to outstanding professional sports teams and is well-known for its barbecue. While you're here, you'll find more than 100 barbecue restaurants including the famous Arthur Bryant's where President Obama has dined. The city is also home to the world's largest barbecue competition. Incase that's not enough bragging rights, BBQ enthusiasts will be thrilled to hear that Kansas City is launching The Museum of BBQ, the first museum in the world dedicated entirely to barbecue. And it opens this weekend.
'The Museum of BBQ is a feast for your senses,' says founder Jonathan Bender. 'Get ready to immerse yourself in the smoke and sizzle of the world of barbecue.'
The museum, set to unveil its grand opening this weekend, is already a highly anticipated attraction. Its recent recognition as one of Time Out's best new things to do in the world has only added to the excitement. It's a moment food fanatics have all been waiting for.
The museum is founded by the legendary Jonathan Bender, an Emmy award winning writer (and KC local) with over a decade of experience in the barbecue industry. It's also in partnership with Alex Pope, chef and owner of Kansas City's The Local Pig butcher shop.
Get ready for an immersive experience that's truly one-of-a-kind. Your journey begins with a unique entry through an oversized door, inspired by a Southern Pride smoker door, that's sure to pique your curiosity as you wander through 4,000 square feet of barbecue heaven.
Baked beans take center stage in the Bean Pit room, where a bean pit with 8,000 ball pit balls ... More awaits kids and the young at heart.
Guests will move through a series of installations, with the first five (Meat, Rub, Wood & Fire, Smoke, and Sauce) dedicated to showing them how meat turns into delicious, mouth-watering barbecue. The interactive exhibits and activities throughout these installations are not just informative, but also fun and engaging. They include identifying butcher cuts via a pig puzzle, posing for an Insta-worthy photo ops with a butcher's apron, plush-like meat statue or the 8,000 'baked bean' ball pit. Or, get tips and tricks for your backyard pit from pros known as Prairie Fresh ambassadors in the Meat Room. The Smoke Room even has a fun ring toss game for younger visitors. Another sensory experience offered is a spice guessing game in The Rub Room before heading off to see the types of smokers used in the barbecue cooking process in The Wood and Fire Room.
A look at the panels in the Rub & Spice room, where visitors will learn about how different spices ... More contribute to the flavor of barbecue.
Contrary to the typical local-centric approach, Kansas City is carving its own path in the barbecue world. Rather than solely showcasing its own barbecue, the city is celebrating the diverse BBQ regions of the United States with its unique installations.
Guests can pose with an oversized championship mustard belt – a nod to the mustard-based sauce that ... More is revered in central South Carolina.
Each regional room (Carolinas, Memphis, Bean Pit, Texas, and Kansas City) is a testament to the rich barbecue history, culture, and styles of the United States. As a Carolina girl, I may be a bit biased, but I can't help but appreciate the cultural significance of each region's BBQ. And of course, there's no shortage of photo ops. You can even pose with the championship mustard belt, a tribute to the BBQ style of South Carolina.
A section of the 22-foot-long mural created by the artist Birdcap to honor Memphis barbecue for the ... More Memphis room.
The museum will be showcasing a diverse range of murals and artwork, from contemporary pieces to traditional works, from several artists like Alice Ferns of England, Katie Ford from Cleveland, Ohio and the Carpenter Collective out of Kansas City, Missouri.
The Museum of BBQ will stock a curated selection of sauces and rubs from Memphis, Texas, the ... More Carolinas, and Kansas City.
One of the most exciting aspects of the museum is the retail space, a haven for barbecue enthusiasts. Here, guests can find a wide array of products, from sauces and meat spritzes to brines and dry ribs, all from the barbecue regions. But that's not all. There's also hickory smoked cheese puffs and BBQ flavored snacks for those who love a good nibble. And for the grillers and pit masters, a selection of tools like burger presses, meat claws, and barbecue mops await, ensuring you have everything you need for the perfect barbecue experience.
The museum will officially open its doors on Saturday April 12, 2025. Located in the shops at Crown Center (2450 Grand Boulevard, Suite 231) in Kansas City, Missouri.
'The Museum of BBQ is such a great addition at Crown Center. It's perfect for our wide audience – hotel guests, other tourists to Kansas City and our local visitors and families,' said Stacey Paine, president of Crown Center Redevelopment Corporation, 'and we look forward to welcoming everyone to this authentic Kansas City experience.'
They operate on a staggered entry model, so guests are admitted every 30 minutes. The Museum of BBQ will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased online.
'Kansas City has such a rich history of barbecue,' says Bender. 'This is the perfect place to bring the world's first barbecue museum to life.'