Because We Wanted to Get Our Money's Worth

Sunday morning we awoke refreshed and renewed. We headed back out to use our second day of admission at the World War I Museum so that we could go to the top of the Liberty Monument and see the two temporary gallery spaces. One gallery had an exhibit covering the experience of the German soldier, complete with pickelhaube covers (a cover to go on your spikey helmet), and the other gallery had some lovely artwork and photography mixed in with some interesting artifacts associated with specific people, giving a more personal touch to the conflict. But before we headed into the galleries, we braved the hold elevator and the windy day to head to the top of the tower (read into that what you will) to get an amazing view of Kansas City. One of the lawns of the memorial was mowed into a lovely argyle pattern, and this giant public art installation across the way spelled "IOU" in railway storage containers. We were puzzled by it, but intrigued. I found a piece on it by the Kansas City Star, explaining that it also has "USA" on the other side and is a commentary on our debt situation. At the time we saw it, I did not realize how close it was to the Federal Reserve Bank :-) http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/17/3144983/iouusa-makes-a-monumental-statement.html

 

As old as the elevator to get up the the top of the Liberty Memorial might be, I'm pretty sure it was still faster than the elevators at my work. And, it has a volunteer elevator operator, which just makes it that much more awesome. We had a lovely, if brief, chat with our elevator man on the way up and the way back down from the top. Once down, we toured the galleries and then headed out to go over to Union Station, which is right across the street from the World War I Museum. A former train station (and still home to Amtrak), Union Station now houses such things as a movie theater, a children's science museum, and traveling exhibits. I had a lovely "Ground Control to Major Tom" Space Oddity moment in the science museum gift shop. And no, I did not leave with any astronaut ice cream. *sad face* The ceilings, floors, and fixtures are still beautiful despite much modernization to the building. And outside you can read about the "massacre" of FBI agents that occurred at Union Station in 1933 very close to where the photo with the clock was taken. Supposedly you can see bullet holes in the wall, although our docent outside, a nice older gentleman, is skeptical that the origin of the damage was actually bullets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_massacre

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/kansas-city-massacre-pretty-boy-floyd

I include two versions of the story, because the FBI maintains that Oklahoma outlaw "Pretty Boy" Floyd was a part of the massacre, whereas evidence suggests he was not present at Union Station that day. Interesting debate. Our docent sided with those who did not believe Floyd was a part of the massacre. And, yet again, the Oklahomans follow us!

 

So, I guess I lied about this being the last installment--more yet to come!