Stepping onto a glass floor with hundreds of red poppies below, winding through exhibits of artillery and getting a feel for life in the trenches are part of what makes the National WWI Museum and Memorial a powerful experience and a must-see stop in Kansas City, Missouri.
So are museums dedicated to art, jazz, Negro Leagues baseball, college basketball and children’s literature. You can hop on a free street car to transport you from an active city market to an iconic train station that also hosts tributes to science, Disney and the holidays. And don’t forget barbeque, a KC staple.
“There is something to do inside and outside all year round,” said Makenzie Wolters, communication manager for Visit KC, adding that winter brings special events such as holiday light shows, Kansas City Chiefs’ fever and restaurant discounts.
The winter holidays get Kansas City’s full attention with massive light displays, neighborhood tree lightings and ice skating rinks, Wolters said. “We go a little crazy in the best possible way.”
New this year is the Hallmark Christmas Experience at the greeting card company’s Crown Center headquarters on weekends from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22. Stars from Hallmark movies will appear and a movie teaming the Chiefs and Hallmark will premiere. The Crown Center also is home to an aquarium and Legoland discovery center.
A more serious experience awaits at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, which houses such an extensive collection of WWI materials that it is considered the nation’s leading institution dedicated to the Great War. In 1919, area citizens raised money for a memorial, which started to deteriorate in the 1990s. In addition to restoring the soaring memorial, supporters opted to add an interpretive museum. It opened in 2006 and draws visitors eager to learn about that war.
Rows of WWI-era weapons, tanks and uniforms make an impression and seek to educate visitors on the war that the U.S. entered after several years of fighting among European countries. An introductory film reminds us that “peace is war held in check.”
Another major attraction is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which houses more than 40,000 pieces, including a world-renowned Asian collection and the “Shuttlecock” installation by Claes Oldenberg and Coosje Van Bruggen that figures prominently in some K.C. publicity.
“This is one of my favorites, and you could easily spend a three-day weekend just in it,” said Wolters of the museum.
If your tastes run more to music and sports, head to the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. The American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum share a common building but separate entrances. Music fans can press buttons at various kiosks dedicated to jazz greats and hear such standards as Louis Armstrong’s “Mac the Knife” and Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo” and “Take the A Train.” Also featured are artifacts including Charlie Parker’s gold watch and one of Ella Fitzgerald’s gowns, films about various performers and the Blue Room club, where you can hear live jazz.
At the baseball museum, visitors can learn about the Negro Leagues that flourished into the 1960s before integration. Uniforms, memorabilia and personal stories help explain the history, and the gift shop offers plenty of shirts and souvenirs highlighting the various teams.
Those who favor another round ball should head to the College Basketball Experience to see the official Hall of Fame for college players and try their hand at interactive experiences.
Kids of all ages may want to detour to North Kansas City to take in The Rabbit hOle, a new museum dedicated to children’s literature. Interactive exhibits and creative spaces tell the story of more than 70 children’s books in a refurbished warehouse.
Back downtown, the whole family will enjoy the free street car that runs 2.2 miles through the city center and past some of Kansas City’s iconic fountains. At one end of the line is the City Market, offering shops and restaurants open every day and farmers’ produce on weekends throughout the year.
The street car line currently ends at Union Station but Wolters said an extension to Country Club Plaza will open in 2025. The 1914 station is an historic landmark but still a working train depot with a grand hall and soaring ceilings. It also holds the Science City museum with a planetarium, the Disney 100 Experience (through Jan. 5) and holiday decorations.
Wolters recommends the Kansas City Museum in an historic estate, the Money Museum run by the Federal Reserve and a side trip to nearby Independence, Missouri, for the newly renovated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
If all that touring makes you hungry, Kansas City has “every type of cuisine from across the world,” Wolters said. She added that the Missouri city’s counterpart in Kansas includes a great Hispanic culture with “amazing” Mexican food.
A good way to sample some of the city’s notable eateries is during Restaurant Week, which actually runs for 10 days in January. Wolters said 100 restaurants participate and offer discounted dining. “The best part is that all of the restaurants donate part of the proceeds back to three local charities that rotate each year,” she said.
And no visit to Kansas City would be complete without sampling its signature barbeque. You can find variations at dozens of spots throughout the city, guaranteeing you will leave with a full stomach and an appreciation for all the city has to offer in the winter.
For more information about Kansas City, go to visitkc.com.
Mary Bohlen of Springfield enjoys traveling to and writing about Midwestern destinations for Illinois Times and other publications.
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This article appears in Winter Guide 2024.
