World War I Museum and Memorial unveil relics hidden in the tower for 100 years

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A time capsule stored within the walls of the National World War I Museum and Memorial has opened to tell tales of what life was like 100 years ago.

History is made again at the WWI Museum and Memorial by adding more history from 1924. The Liberty Memorial Association buried the capsule within the Memorial Tower when it was being constructed.

Relics inside included photographs, letters, medals, and more as they were presented to area students Wednesday.

“We were kind of like kids in a candy store,” said Chief Curator Christopher Warren. “Enjoying the process and knowing that we weren’t sure what was in there.”

WWI Museum and Memorial President and CEO Matthew Naylor said it’s every historian’s dream to have a capsule like this stored and preserved correctly for all to see.

“What a wonderful thing that is that tells stories from the past,” he said.

The staff had already opened the capsule to investigate what was inside earlier, but Wednesday was the full presentation as the curtain drew back.

There were though some of the items they had not opened up for people to see alongside them, as they dissected what was written or photographed.

“The people in 1924, they wanted generations to come to remember them and remember what was sacrificed for the cause of democracy – that the Americans went to serve,” said Naylor.

One of those unknown items unveiled were seeds in envelopes and inside a tube.

“the seeds were very unexpecting,” said Lottie, a 5th-grade student. “I really can’t wait to see what we’re going to do with them. Maybe we’ll plant them and it’ll come out to something beautiful.”

5th-grade student Abel added, “I think that they wanted us to know how hard it was back then.”

To continue making history, the staff will be compiling items again to put into another capsule that will be opened 100 years from now.

“We really want the Kansas City community to be involved so if you go to our website, you can give us suggestions, the types of things that are important to you, to our community, to put in that time capsule for people 100 years from now,” said Warren.

Warren also emphasized it was important for students to be a part of the unveiling as it becomes a tradition.

“Always wanting to educate the youth on history and how important it is, the enduring legacy of World War I, but also because we knew there were students in 1924 at the ceremony itself,” he said. “They took part in it and we wanted to recreate that and keep the tradition going on.”

Some suggestions from the students we spoke with include handwritten letters and drawings. One can suggest Chiefs or Royals gear will most likely be thrown into the mix of 2024 relics.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.