Veterans Day Ceremony and Poppy Craft

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is marking Veterans Day with a series of events running from Friday, November 6, through Wednesday, November 11. The museum is closed Tuesday, November 10, so keep that in mind if you're planning your visit around the holiday. The centerpiece is the Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, at 10 AM.

There are a few different things to catch across the weekend. The World War I Research Stations run from November 6 to 11, 10 AM to 5 PM, in the Auditorium Lobby. If you're around early, a Vietnam Era Bell UH-1 Iroquois 'Huey' helicopter will be on display from November 6 to 8 on the U-shaped Drive. And on the holiday itself, you can make your own poppy pin from 10 AM to 4 PM near the Glass Bridge.

It's a big year for the museum, too. 2026 marks its centennial, a century since the site was dedicated in 1921. Back then, Kansas City leaders formed the Liberty Memorial Association to honor the 441 Kansas Citians who died in the Great War. The public raised more than $2.5 million in just ten days in 1919, and President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the monument in 1926 before more than 150,000 people. The site closed in 1994 and reopened in 2006 as the nation's official World War I Museum, with more than 350,000 items and over a million visitors a year. Its grounds, known as Kansas City's 'Front Porch,' have hosted the 2023 NFL Draft and the FIFA World Cup 2026.

On Veterans Day, the museum makes a point to distinguish the occasion—a time to thank people for their service—from Memorial Day, which is meant to reflect on those who gave their lives during service. Admission is free for veterans and active-duty military, and general admission is half-price during Veterans Day Weekend.