I had the pleasure of speaking to different groups in Kansas City this week about my book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.” When I was first contacted about the events, I was unsure that I could fit it into the schedule. That is when one of the hosts told me that one of the events would be held at the National World War I Museum. As a military history nut, that ended any doubt. I have wanted to visit the museum for years and could not resist the opportunity. It would turn out to be an overwhelming experience. Kansas City is a beautiful city filled with great food and wonderful people. However, if you come just for the museum, you would consider yourself well served. This is a unique space and captures the causes and costs of the Great War.The museum is located on a gorgeous stretch of land overlooking the city. It offers an enchanting view in the evening, as I found out on my trip in listening to “taps” at dusk.
The museum was opened in 1926 as the country’s official war memorial. It is an imposing structure designed by New York architect Harold Van Buren Magonigle in a classical Egyptian Revival style. There is a brutalist feel with sawed granite and limestone exterior.
Ar the groundbreaking ceremony on November 1, 1921, the attendants included not only Vice President Calvin Coolidge, but also Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France and General of the Armies John J. Pershing of the United States. My grandfather, Ed Turley, fought under Pershing in World War I as part of the “Fighting Irish” division out of New York and New Jersey. He was wounded in combat. Also in attendance were Lieutenant General Baron Jacques of Belgium, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty of Great Britain, and General Armando Diaz of Italy.
On November 11, 1926, President Coolidge opened up the museum with Queen Marie of Romania. Coolidge declared that “the magnitude of this memorial, and the broad base of popular support on which it rests, can scarcely fail to excite national wonder and admiration.”
He was right. This museum and memorial still inspires anyone who visits.The displays are a delight for military history fans with a wide assortment of arms, helmets, and weaponry from the Great War.
It also has realistic recreations of trench warfare and living.
My favorite part is actually found in the lower level with a type of storage of items. (If I had one suggestion for the museum, it would be to add to the displays with material in storage and give closer access to the items on the lower level). However, the helmets, uniforms, and other items are extraordinary.
After my event, I was invited by the hosts to watch and listen to “taps” near the “Liberty Tower.” I am so happy that I did. It can only be described as magical. The rain had moved through the city and left a radiant dusk. Young ROTC students supplied the honor guard as a local man played taps.
This was followed by Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes and Drums, an award-winning group of musicians that offered a breathtaking performance as the sun set over the city. I have recorded a few of their songs.
I will leave you with these wonderful songs. However, I hope that you will find your way to Kansas City and this unique museum in our heartland. That favorite son of Kansas, Harry Truman once explained his philosophy as “Do your best, history will do the rest.”
Well, Kansas City is still doing its best and presenting the history of the Great War with an elegance and honesty that is a credit to our entire nation.
The National WW1 Museum also has a fantastic YouTube channel, with dozens, maybe hundreds of lectures on all aspects of the war and everything it touched.
Nicely done professor. I did not know of this Site. Hopefully we will get there some time.
Only problem was the lady who seemed to be oblivious to the fact that there were other people there listening to the music and recording the scene and yet she ruined almost every shot.
I’ve been to that museum, Turls, and I enjoyed it as well. My grandfather also served in WW I. and his son, my uncle, the guy I’m named after, served in WW II on the HERRING, a sub that was sunk off Northern Japan in shallow water after being the only sub to see extensive time in both the Atlantic and Pacific during that war.
Enjoyed the videos you posted of the pipes and drums. Just wish you wouldn’t knowingly curate such an idiotic base of anti-democratic, anti-American right wing f#$ks on your blog here with your gaslighting editorials.
Professor Turley reports facts. His “right wing” commenters support the democratic process for electing leaders. People like you belong to a party that is fundamentally anti-democratic. Sanders was shoved out of the 2016 primary through fraud even though he had wide voter support, a rotting dementia-addled corpse who couldn’t find his way off an empty stage and shook hands with imaginary people became a marionette for unelected left-wing extremists to run the autopen and every other aspect of the national government, and when that charade became unsustainable, he was replaced with an anointed queen wannabe that zero voters voted for.
Lol @ Proud MAGAT
LOL @ Hysterical Bolshevik Biden Birthing Person On A Broomstick
Impressed with magat alliteration!!
YES we are.
Just wish you wouldn’t knowingly curate such an idiotic base of anti-democratic, anti-American right wing f#$ks on your blog here with your gaslighting editorials.
Another one of Bolshevik Barack and The Oval Office House Plant’s Bolshevik Biden Boyz pops up to Speak Her Truths… they believe they lost their Soviet Democrat version of democracy when they no longer held the White House to use the DoJ and FBI as the party STASI to take out their political threats through police state fascism like their felonious “Trump-Russia Dossier”.
And here they are: STILL attempting to win the 2024 election with the same old lines made up of lies, channeling their Soviet mentality with claims they’re saving their democracy, one Trump-Russia Dossier at a time.
Taps as it should sound…
Thank you! We didn’t realize this museum existed but will try to go if we’re able to travel to the area.
Trump: ‘Am I allowed to appoint myself at the Fed?’
I sure hope he does. He is the smartest man in the universe (Sorry Elon), so absolutely, he should run the Kennedy Center, be the President, run his grifting enterprise, and be the Fed Chairman.
Go for it big guy!
What could possibly go wrong with a guy that has declared bankruptcy 6 times, had his business convicted of fraud running the Fed?
Yet look what he has done. What about you?
“TOO BIG TO FAIL”
Communists taxed and spent America into actual “bankruptcy” which was far more serious than the rare “strategic” bankruptcies of businesses.
You mentioned neither.
___________________________
AI Overview
Great Recession: What It Was and What Caused It
The term likely refers to the Great Recession, a severe global economic downturn that began in 2007 and lasted until 2009. It was triggered by the collapse of the U.S. housing market and the subsequent financial crisis. The crisis led to a sharp contraction in economic activity, widespread job losses, and significant declines in asset values.
You’ll never go bankrupt when your only business venture is selling your office in the White House to ChiComs and Putin. Nor will you have to worry about being convicted of fraud, not just in 99% New York with a political hack Attorney General and Prosecutors, but in any state in the union while the DoJ and FBI you control turns themselves inside out hiding your decades of felonies as Biden White House Crime LLC.
And yes, what could go wrong with electing Bribery Biden, after watching him sell his office in the White House for eight years, getting wealthy while the prez he answered to ignored the 150 Suspicious Activity Reports filed by banks, reporting money laundering and selling influence from his Vice President?
You end up with anonymous Soviets controlling the media and the AutoPen, while the president you concealed and lied to protect, serves primarily as The Oval Office House Plant?
Tens of millions of criminal Illegal Aliens invited and welcomed into the country as parasites on American taxpayers while serving their ultimate purpose: Guest Democrat Voters?
Bidenomics?
Little boys and girls assured that with a little bit of chemical and surgical mutiliation, they too can grow up to be the opposite sex?
Oh yes – what could possibly go wrong with that guy in the White House, The Oval Office House Plant!
Trump is Shane. He brings a kind of disruption that makes civilization possible. He will leave when there are no more guns in the valley. He will be scorned during his actions (see above) but he will see them through because that is his calling.
Thank you Professor Turley. It was a great evening to be at the WW I Museum and be a part of the Truth In Turmoil: Free Speech in a Divided Nation event by the American Public Square. There is a solemnity to the museum and what the historical events of WW I portrayed there regarding the sacrifices by individual soldiers in the face of the conflict. The battle field depictions, the armaments, the portrayal of the events the were present leading up to the war, the movies from the era, and the Bridge over the European theater are telling the story and the history of WW I. Your post and pictures clearly lays out the WW I Museum and its importance.
The museum was a perfect setting for the conversation held at the event. I am “an indispensable ally for free speech!” I am grateful for your voice and leadership in the presence of those who want to change our Democracy, which is not dying. “Good speech is the best at countering bad speech.” “Free Speech is a Human Right.” Thank you Professor Turley.
*. Anyone read the SCOTUS Transgender care opinion? My opinion is it shouldn’t be in the courts at all nor specifically addressed. It’s place would be in criminal law under medical malpractice, research, and child abuse as definition.
Looks like a fine trip, PT.
I was a bit confused on what meant. But I did noticed the 3 libs wanted child abuse no matter what… Nuts
Apparently it’s a simple case of age. Tennessee set an age and nothing else. There are various other ages set by States such as voting, alcohol, Tobacco etc.
Just visited the WWI museum and surveyed K.C. from the top of the tower yesterday with an out-of-town friend. Between what we locals call “Liberty Memorial” and the Truman Library in nearby Independence, Mo. there’s a lot of history to be re-visited in the K.C area. Plus our BBQ is without parallel!
Come for a visit.
The pipes man, the pipes!
The Kansas City Saint Andrew Pipes and Drums are a welcome sight and sound. Well done.
Thank you professor for sharing this with us.
-Oddball (formerly #9.).
Break the D.C. monument stranglehold. It would be interesting to learn the history of this monument’s establishment.
Nice post, Professor.
Thank you for sharing the pictures and your trip, professor.
Now that we are on the brink of Nuclear War it is fitting that you note President Harry S. Truman.
You no doubt read Truman by David McCullough, and know of his Home and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is in Independence, Missouri, and eastern suburb of Kansas City.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman_Presidential_Library_and_Museum
https://www.nps.gov/articles/harry-truman-and-independence-missouri-this-is-where-i-belong-teaching-with-historic-places.htm
Per the Book, Truman’s time severed in WWI placed a heavy impression upon him in his decision to use the Bomb in WWII.
The Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, is a World War I memorial, and former President Harry S. Truman did speak there at the re-dedication ceremony in 1961. While not specifically a “Harry Truman Memorial”, it does hold significance for him due to his presence at the event and his service in WWI.
https://pendergastkc.org/articles/liberty-memorial-remembering-then-and-now
For those whom have not read Truman, it’s highly recommended reading.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_(book)
Let’s pray that these Men find God and never use nuclear weapons again.
Thank you NA.
Now that we are on the brink of Nuclear War it is fitting that you note President Harry S. Truman.
If I had a ten spot for every time somebody upset with American foreign policy threw that out as their idea of protest, I could buy some very nice man toys. At least a mint condition Lee Enfield No.4 Mk1. Preferably a Long Branch 1950 95L series rifle, complete with arsenal hang tag: the best of the best. Or perhaps a 1914 BSA No.1 Mk3 with WWI provenance.
Just a reminder to “Never Again”: that’s the hysterical fear we heard that motivated Bush to start what Clinton finished: promising Ukraine that if they gave up those nukes they now had pointed at the new Russian Federation, we would use American military might to be the replacement deterrent to anyone who would attack them, and be their defense if they were in fact attacked.
Now we tell Ukraine “you don’t have any cards now” as we throw them a few bones while they fight Russia alone. While we scream for the last few years that with Putin having nukes and Ukraine that we disarmed having none, we are yet again on the brink of Nuclear War.
And Putin now has those nukes that the Ukrainians had pointed at them now pointed at us here in the USA. Second and third order consequences…
BTW, when the Democrats were earlier screaming that electing Trump in 2016 would inevitably result in Nuclear War – did that convince you to vote for Clinton instead?
By H-Bomb or Bunker Buster (Dirty Nuke Bombing), Preppers take no chances. Be Prepared for the worst.
☢️ Watch: Bibi Warning Iran Nuclear Bomb Capability ‘Imminent’ – Spanning 30 Years
By: Tyler Durden ~ Wednesday, Jun 18, 2025
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/watch-cnn-clips-bibi-warning-iran-nuclear-bomb-capability-imminent-spanning-30-years
These preppers have ‘go bags,’ guns and a fear of global disaster. They’re also left-wing
By: Laura Paddison ~ Jun 17, 2025
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/climate/left-wing-liberal-preppers
Sorry there’s no room for you in my Bunker.
Some of you may know of Mark Knopfler and the song about his uncle who died in WWI as a bagpipe player on the field of battle. A history piece really:
Was just in Kansas City last month, along with my wife, and also had the pleasure of visiting this extremely important and educational museum/memorial. It is a must visit when in Kansas City. Thank you, Professor Turley, for your wisdom and insights.
Johnathon! I knew you had to have some good blood! Irish!! With a mix of Scilian….. enjoyed the read!
Thanks. I didn’t know about the museum. The last time I was in France, the Champagne District, I hired a guide for a WWI tour about an hour east of Reims. It was fascinating. My guide was born in one of the villages in the area and had keys to the tunnels. We went down into them. Saw the Argonne Forest and ended the day at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery that has more than 14,000 graves–the largest cemetery of American fallen in Europe (it’s not Normandy).
museum is in missouri…
truman is from missouri…
(k.c. chiefs play for missouri… so far…)
but thank you for this & all your posts…
❤️ — from the heartland
Looks great, I’ve only ever been to Kansas as a child. Thank you for sharing it, Professor Turley.