Time Need for Museums

Question

Hello, my family will be visiting next month. We are not really museum people, but the WWI Museum and the Negro Leagues Museum have caught our eye. How much time should we budget to visit each? Thank you!

Answer

The WWI Museum and the Negro Leagues Museum are both wonderful attractions in Kansas City, each offering a rich historical experience. While you mentioned that you’re not typically "museum people," both of these museums are well-regarded for their engaging exhibits and immersive storytelling. Here's a breakdown of how much time you might want to allocate for each:

WWI Museum and Memorial – The WWI Museum is one of the most comprehensive museums dedicated to World War I in the world. Depending on how in-depth you want to go, you should plan for about 2 to 3 hours to fully explore the exhibits, including the main museum, the exhibits in the Liberty Memorial Tower (with panoramic views of Kansas City), and the outdoor memorial area. If you're interested in reading all the plaques and watching videos, it might take a little longer. However, for a more casual visit, you could get through it in about 2 hours.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – The Negro Leagues Museum, located in the historic 18th & Vine District, is a fantastic museum that offers a powerful look into the history of African American baseball and its cultural impact. It's smaller than the WWI Museum but still very rich in history. Plan for about 1.5 to 2 hours to get through the exhibits. The museum is fairly compact but has a lot of great information, and it's definitely worth taking your time to appreciate the stories of the legendary players and teams. If you're a baseball fan or have a deeper interest in the subject, you might spend a little longer here.

In total, if you plan to visit both museums on the same day, you should budget around 4 to 5 hours, including time to relax and enjoy the exhibits without feeling rushed. If you want to do them on separate days, you can easily fit them into half-day visits. Both museums are located relatively close to each other in the 18th & Vine District, so you could even combine them for a more leisurely day of history and culture.

Since you mentioned that you’re not normally into museums, these two are quite engaging and might change your mind about museum visits! Enjoy your trip to Kansas City!