Impact Partner Spotlight: National WWI Museum and Memorial

2 Memorial Drive
Kansas City, MO 64108
http://theworldwar.org

Year founded:

1919 (as an association), 1926 (opening of the Museum and Memorial)

Tell us about your business?

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America's leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum and Memorial fulfills its mission by:

• • maintaining the Memorial as a beacon of freedom and a symbol of the courage, patriotism, sacrifice, and honor of all who served
  • interpreting the history of World War I to encourage public involvement and informed decision-making
  • providing exhibitions and educational programs that engage diverse audiences
  • and collecting and preserving historical materials with the highest professional standards

What's a recent success story or milestone you're proud of?

This spring marks the end of a three-year journey reinvigorating the Museum and Memorial, including the new Lower Level and Open Storage Center and updates to the Main Gallery, including 14 new interactive screens, three new films, new lighting and special effects, updated trenches, an authentic replica field hospital and much more. Additionally, the exterior grounds and buildings have undergone extensive cleaning and preservation work to maintain this national museum and memorial for generations to come.

These upgrades create a richer and more immersive guest experience — just in time for the centennial of the Museum and Memorial in 2026.

What do you love most about being part of this Chamber?

The National WWI Museum and Memorial has been a member of the Mid-America LGBT Chamber for 10 years. We are proud to be part of an organization that promotes the region’s LGBT business community and their allies. Membership offers professional development and networking opportunities for our staff and helps demonstrate our commitment to being an organization where equity, inclusion and diversity merge to create a space of belonging. We extend a universal welcome without regard to race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or other characteristics, and we are committed to a workforce where employees of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives enhance our work.

What would you like our Chamber members to know about your business which isn’t necessarily obvious?

100 years ago, the Kansas City community came together to honor those who served and sacrificed in the Great War. We are thrilled to celebrate our centennial with Kansas City and the world in 2026. Although we are the National WWI Museum and Memorial, we receive no federal funds for operations support and rely entirely on the generosity of our donors and partners. There are a multitude of partnership opportunities for businesses including sponsorship, corporate membership and unique event space rental, and we invite Mid-America LGBT Chamber members to join with us to elevate their business as we take the national and global stage in 2026.