12-05-2025
National WWI Museum to debut new exhibit during Memorial Day weekend
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After three years of construction projects, the National World War I Museum and Memorial announced that it is opening a new main gallery exhibit on Memorial Day weekend.
The museum said the new exhibit, 'Encounters,' uses diary entries, letters and photos to share first-person accounts of individuals who lived through World War I.
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Through visual storytelling, guests will meet 16 people who lived through the war, including:
Allied and Central Power combat soldiers who lived through the Western Front and patrolled the seas in submarines
British colonial Indian soldiers who contemplated death and rebelled against the war
Women who worked in munitions factories to support the war effort
Dissenters who were arrested and tried for protesting involvement in the war
'The incredible stories showcased in Encounters bring to life those who lived during the Great War in a way that's never been experienced before,' Matthew Naylor, museum CEO and president, said in a statement.
'Encounters invites our guests to hear and see real, first-hand narratives of not just the soldier, but the nurse, child, and others who were impacted by global conflict. We hope these intimate encounters with 16 individuals are both moving and thought-provoking for visitors.'
'Encounters' is located in the west gallery, next to 'The Epilogue,' and is included for those who purchase a general admission ticket. It opens to the public on May 23.
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Guests will also see other additions and improvements that have been made as part of the final phase of the main gallery construction, including 14 new interactive screens, three new films, new lighting and special effects, updated trenches, and a replica field hospital.
Additionally, during Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, the museum will offer free admission for active-duty military members and veterans, including spouses and dependents with valid ID. Half-price admission will be offered to the public.
For tickets and more information, .
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