Museums are plentiful in the Kansas City metro area. Following are five unique options, several of which double as off-site venues.
At the Money Museum (816.881.2683; www.kc.frb.org/moneymuseum) in Kansas City, Mo., visitors can’t roll in a bed filled with money, but they can come close. The museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is an experience fit for Scrooge McDuck. Admission is free, and each visitor receives a bag of shredded cash as a souvenir. Interactive exhibits include the chance to design your own money, and the chance to lift a real gold bar worth nearly a half million dollars. Walk-in and guided tours are available, although the museum does request appointments for groups of more than 20.
The only museum of its kind in the country, the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial (816.888.8100; www.theworldwar.org) in Kansas City, Mo., remembers the men who served as well as the tools of war, including artillery, a tank and planes. Photos and recordings allow visitors to experience the war through those who were there, and attendees can even create and e-mail propaganda posters. There are several spaces available for events, from conference rooms to a reception in the powerful main gallery or on the grounds overlooking the Liberty Memorial Tower itself.
Bad boys never go out of style, especially if one of them is named Jesse James. Located nearby in Kearney and Liberty, Mo., the Jesse James Farm & Museum (816.736.8500; www.jessejamesmuseum.org) and the Jesse James Bank Museum (816.736.8510; www.jessejamesmuseum.org) mark the famed outlaw’s birthplace, original burial site and the bank where James and his men conducted the first-ever daylight robbery in peacetime. Period furnishings, artifacts and a film on Frank and Jesse James makes history come alive. Group rates are available for more than 15 attendees.
The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum (816.268.8200; www.trumanlibrary.org) is located in nearby Independence, Mo., and the facility often receives high marks as one of the most in-depth looks at a U.S. President. Not only does it cover his years in the White House, but it also covers his life before and after in Independence. The museum includes a wealth of information for researchers as well as interactive exhibits and an Oval Office replica for visitors. There are numerous spaces available for groups, from the large main lobby often used for dinners to a 239-seat auditorium. The grounds are also available for picnics and other events. The facility can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees.
