A new 190-foot “coastline” of window cases allows guests to view 1,500 objects from the collection and watch staff process new acquisitions. (National WWI Museum and Memorial)
On May 19 the National WWI Museum and Memorial reopened its lower level to the public following the most extensive renovation since the museum’s opening in 2006.
Featuring the Bergman Family Gallery and Open Storage Center, the renovation provides approximately 4,000 square feet of new storage and an impressive 190-foot “coastline” of window cases that allows guests the opportunity not only to view 1,500 objects and artifacts from the collection, but also to watch the staff process new acquisitions and prepare them for storage or exhibit.
Brad and Libby Bergman, longtime supporters of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, helped fund the reopened space, as well as a new staircase that provides direct access from the main level, with a $1 million grant.
The lower level also features an updated R. A. Long Learning Center, Ellis (Exhibit) Gallery and Edward Jones Research Center, as well as additional spaces for small groups to gather and learn about the collection and World War I.
The opening of the lower level kicks off a multi-year strategic effort, which will provide critical upgrades to the museum’s spaces, including the Main Gallery, all of which will make the collection more accessible and create a richer and more immersive visitor experience. The target date for the project is 2025, preparing the way for a 2026 centennial celebration of the opening of the Liberty Memorial in 1926.
As part of the reopening festivities, Christopher Warren, vice president of collections and senior curator, commented that the newly renovated space is the largest redesign since the museum opened in 2006. He pointed out the variety of objects chosen for display, which will appeal to a wide range of ages and interests, and the opportunity for visitors to be able to see what staff do “behind the scenes.”
Dr. Matthew Naylor, president and CEO, expressed how excited he is with the renovation and the museum’s future plans, “which will allow it to continue to grow both its collections and its visitorship” and “tell stories from the margins about the personal lives of the soldiers.”
Boasting the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world, the National WWI Museum and Memorial has been designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial. But like most major museums, only a small fraction of the museum’s 350,000-piece collection, which dates to 1920, is exhibited at any one time.
Ralph Applebaum Associates, who designed the original museum in 2006, will assist in the multiyear project. The Mabee Foundation provided a $2 million matching grant, which has helped attract funding from several foundations and philanthropic organizations, including UMB Bank, The Sunderland Foundation, Hall Family Foundation, William T. Kemper Foundation, Helzberg Foundation and the Lilly Endowment.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial, 2 Memorial Drive, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, 816.888.8100 or theworldwar.org.
