National WW1 Museum - November 7th, 2010
 Visit the National World War I Museum in Kansas City |
 The Liberty Memorial Tower was dedicated Nov. 11,1926 |
 President Calvin Coolidge delivered the dedication speech to 150,000 gathered people |
 The 80,000 ft museum, built underneath, opened Dec. 2006 |
 2 of the 4 Guardian Spirits at the top, each 40ft tall |
 Dave at the reflecting pool for a museum entrance photo |
 The reflecting pool was added 2002-2003 |
 View away from the entrance of the museum |
 Walk over the poppies to enter the museum |
 Start at 1914-1917, before America entered the war |
 Both sides believed the war would be short & decisive |
 Pickelhaube - Mit Gott für Koenig und Vaterland |
 L: German 15cm Model 1902 R: British 5in. Mark 1 |
 Same heavy field howitzers from the back angle |
 Multinational rifles & pistols at the start of the war |
 Knives for a close & personal fight, not so for grenades |
 French 75mm Model 1897 on left with wheels |
 German 24.5cm Model 1616 heavy trench mortar on left |
 German trench warfare gear & supplies |
 Two German light machine guns MG08 (Maxim) |
 Sniper rifles from both sides, top is a British Lee-Enfield |
 TtoB: British Lewis, Vickers, Hotchkiss machine guns |
 TtoB: French Chauchat and Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun |
 Lugers - LtoR: Model 1908, Model 1914, & LP08 |
 Austro-Hungarian 8cm Model 5/8 field gun |
 Five inch British naval deck gun |
 Brad reads of naval battles beyond the torpedo & mine |
 Airco D.H.2 pusher helped end the "Fokker Scourge" |
 Actual model made at Bremen in 1916 of U-104 |
 Best Aces: German Richthofen = 80, French Fonck = 75 |
 Below the Horizon Theater, halfway point of the museum |
 15min film on what led America to enter the war |
 Think this is a Nieuport 12, in American markings |
 Horses and wagon required for pulling a field into battle |
 US 3inch Model 1905 field gun w/model 1902 carriage |
 Gear the Army of Democracy brought over to the war |
 Banjo & "portable" phonograph player |
 American developed gear brought over to battle |
 More US Gear including trench shotguns & BAR's |
 T:German MG08/15, B:Chauchat rechambered to 30-06 |
 Only US gun to see WW1 combat, 4.7inch Model 1906 |
 US 24cm heavy trench mortar & French 37mm semiauto |
 French Renault FT 17 tank w/37mm gun |
 Shot in the rear when it was running away? |
 1917 Harley Davidson motorcycle, 20K sent "Over There" |
 "Crank It Up!" 1917 style on a wood cab Model T |
 German 7.7cm Model 1896 field gun |
 German 10.5cm Model 1916 light field howitzer |
 A final view of the 1917-1919 area before heading outside for a ride to the top of the tower |
 The Exhibit Hall served as the main museum gallery of the Liberty Memorial from 1926 to 2006 |
 Twin Sphinxes flank the tower with wings covering their faces in mourning for the dead of past and future wars |
 The Memory Hall contains the names of Kansas Citians who died during World War I along with impressive murals |
 Four Guardian Spirits at the top are each 40ft tall |
 Find the elevator at the base of tower for the 217ft ride up |
 Panarama from the top of the Liberty Tower, looking Northwest beyond I-35 and W. Pennway street | |
 Looking north toward downtown Kansas City over the fancy downtown KC Union Station | |
 Looking northeast toward the hotels beyond Washington Square Park | |
 Looking east north east past the Crowne Center and beyond Childrens Mercy Hospital & Hospital Hill | |
 Looking straight down on Memory Hall beside the tower |
 Looking south at the Liberty Memorial Mall |
 Southeast view from the Liberty Memorial Tower | |
 Southwest view over two actual baseball diamonds. You can steal signs from the tower! | |
 Westward view over the industry and traintracks | |
 Further northwest view with airport tower off in the distance | |
 Performing Arts Center under construction left background and Union Station with restaurants, shops, & exhibits | |