Living the Great War
The free weekend event Living the Great War featuring living historians, educational programs and replica World War I aircraft, a hands-on art discussion on how art can serve as a healing mechanism therapy and the opening of ticket sales for the third annual Night at the Tower event are among the August offerings from the National World War I Museum and Memorial.
Living the Great War features the Living History Volunteer Corps and other World War I living historians sharing their knowledge and inviting the public to inspect their collections in a camp setting on the Museum grounds. The event on Saturday, Aug. 26 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and Sunday, Aug. 27 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) features educational programs on weapons (11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. each day), a Story Time program (10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. each day) and a fun-filled obstacle course (10-11:30 a.m. & 12:30-2 p.m. each day). The Kansas City Dawn Patrol will have several replicated WWI-era aircraft on display, while people have the opportunity to inspect and ride in a restored 1915 Ford Model T machine gun carrier vehicle (weather permitting).
Vive l’Amérique: French Children Welcome their American Ally
Dr. Gaelynn P. Wolf Bordonaro, Director of Emporia State University Art Therapy Program, provides a pair of engaging programs on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the Museum. During World War I children were forced to cope with life-altering experiences and as shown in the centennial exhibition Vive l’Amérique: French Children Welcome their American Ally, many children turned to drawing or writing to help process and express their feelings towards the war. Dr. Bordonaro is conducting two interactive lectures, a family-friendly experience and an adult session, speaking about the powerful effect art therapy can have in response to a wide variety of experiences. The family-friendly experience is free with RSVP and begins at 2 p.m., while the adult session is at 6 p.m. and is free to Museum members with RSVP and $7 for non-members.
Night at the Tower
Tickets to the Museum’s third annual Night at the Tower (Saturday, Sept. 16) are now on sale. This year’s event continues to build on the momentum of the past two years with eclectic food and beverages, an exclusive auction, and an all new program experience featuring the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. Jeanette and Kevin Prenger are serving as Event Chairmen with the Hall Family as Honorary Chairmen. Tickets, which start at $150 and included unlimited food and beverage, are available Here.
As the last month of summer comes to a close, the Museum continues to provide a wide variety of kid-friendly activities just in time for the school year to begin. Hands-on history occurs every Saturday at 2p.m. as families and children are invited to handle and inspect Great War artifacts. On Aug. 2 and 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. children 12 years and younger are invited to a special 30-minute Children’s Tour of the Main Gallery. Additionally, on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. the Museum hosts a free Story Time entitled Around America to Win the Vote in celebration of the 19th Amendment’s ratification. Children and families are invited to participate in a craft and community reading of Mara Rockliff’s empowering story of two suffragists and their cross-country campaign for equality.
On Thursday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. Associate Professor of Music at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Dr. Kristin Griffeath, and her husband, Robin Griffeath, perform a medley of World War I-era hits. Within the set list for this free event are several compositions written and published in Kansas City from the Great War era.
On Saturday, Aug. 5 at 10:30 a.m. the Museum hosts Mrs. Wilson’s Knitting Circle where guests are invited to join in on a quick history lesson about embroidered silk and postcards with Museum Archivist and Edward Jones Research Center Manager Jonathan Casey. Guests receive a free World War I-era specific pattern with their RSVP and will be invited to share their knitting knowledge with the community. Guests are welcome to bring their own knitting projects whether big or small.
August’s Film Friday occurs on Friday, Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. with a free screening of the 2014 film adaptation of Testament of Youth. The movie unfolds during the outbreak of World War I as real life heroine, Vera Brittain, becomes a nurse and serves on the Western Front. The film recounts the experiences Brittain writes about in her 1933 autobiography. Testament of Youth stars Academy Award-winner Alicia Vikander and Kit Harington from Game of Thrones.
Other Museum events during August include a HistoryPin Workshop geared toward teachers (Aug. 2, 9:30 a.m.), The Modernists Tailgate Party for the Swope Park Rangers (Aug. 12, 6 p.m.), Pilates in the Park (Aug. 31, 7:30 a.m.), and The Modernists Happy Hour (Aug. 31, 5:30 p.m.)
The National World War I Museum and Memorial holds the most diverse collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and personal experiences of the war.
August National World War I Museum and Memorial Events
· Every Wednesday: World War Wednesdays (all tickets $8)
· Every Thursday: Complimentary Tour, 2 p.m. (FREE with paid admission)
· Every Saturday: Hands-on History, 2 p.m. (FREE)
· Wednesday, August 2, 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.: HistoryPin Workshop (FREE with RSVP)
· Thursday, August 3, 6 p.m.: Hometown Hits: Kansas City Songs of World War I (FREE with RSVP)
· Saturday, August 5, 10:30 a.m.: Mrs. Wilson’s Knitting Circle (FREE with RSVP)
· Friday, August 11, 6:30 p.m.: Film Friday: Testament of Youth (FREE with RSVP)
· Saturday, August 12, 11 a.m.: Story Time: Around America to Win the Vote (FREE with RSVP)
· Saturday, August 12, 6 p.m.: Modernists Tailgate Party for the Rangers (Tickets for Members only ($25)
· Wednesday, August 16, 2 p.m.: Family Friendly: Healing through Art (FREE with RSVP)
· Wednesday, August 16, 6:30 p.m.: Healing through Art (FREE for Museum Members; $7 for non-members)
· Saturday, August 26, 10 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Living the Great War (FREE)
· Sunday, August 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Living the Great War (FREE)
· Thursday, August 31, 7:30 a.m.: Pilates in the Park (FREE with RSVP)
· Thursday, August 31, 5:30 p.m.: Modernist Happy Hour (FREE)
Check out the National World War I Museum and Memorial for more details.