Kansas City can step into the streets of Paris without leaving Memorial Drive. Paris at War, the special exhibition in the Wylie Gallery at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, invites visitors to discover the City of Light at one of the most creative and resilient moments in its history.
The journey begins in La Belle Époque, the beautiful era when Paris blazed with art, science, music and optimism. From there, the exhibition follows Parisians who kept their city alive and welcoming through years of change: seamstresses known as midinettes who won fair wages, neighbors who shared what they had, and artists and musicians who kept culture glowing in cafés and concert halls.
Paris also became a joyful crossroads of cultures. Soldiers and visitors arrived from across the French-speaking world and the Allied nations, and when American troops reached the city in 1917 they brought a sound Paris would love forever: jazz. Interactive audio stations, original posters, photographs, uniforms and personal objects bring those encounters to life, ending with the celebration and hope of the armistice.
Opened on November 6, 2025, and on view through summer 2027, Paris at War is a wonderful plan for art lovers, history fans and curious families alike at 2 Memorial Drive. It is a celebration of creativity, friendship between peoples and the enduring spirit of a city that never stopped shining.
Photo: National WWI Museum and Memorial
