ATTRACTIONS & EXPERIENCES 31
IT has been more than 100 years since the Great War came to an end after Germany signed an armistice in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne. World War I was a significant tragedy, and ultimately changed the course of history. It single-handedly led to the disintegration of four empires – the Austro-Hungarian, German, Ottoman and Russian – and the aftermath and sanctions on Germany that followed were a significant factor in the outbreak
of World War II. An estimated 20 million people lost their lives and around six to 13 million of those were civilians. Remembering the legacy of those that were affected by the war is not
just important, it’s imperative. The National WWI Museum
and Memorial (which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year) located in Kansas City, Missouri is home to the most comprehensive collection of WWI objects in the world (with more than 350,000 items) and is the only museum in the US that shares the stories of WWI through the eyes of those who lived it. The museum’s latest exhibition is Encounters, described as a face-to-face journey into the stories of the Great War . Encounters uses immersive technology to share the stories of 16 individuals from their own personal historical accounts. The accounts are by those from different walks of life who were all impacted by the war – combat soldiers, women munitions workers, colonial soldiers, a child, a dissenter and more. Using source material of diaries, letters and photos, the actors that visitors see on screen are as authentic as historically possible. Throughout the exhibit, visitors are able to step into one of several alcoves, where a life-sized digital performer recounts the experiences of a real individual whose story has been reconstructed from diaries, letters and photographs. For museums, the challenge lies in making these personal experiences resonate with younger generations. REALITIES OF WAR The National WWI Museum and Memorial chose Electrosonic as its audio-visual partner when reopening the museum back in 2026. Electrosonic was a partner on the original museum opening in 2006, so it was fitting for this project given their 20-year history. The main gallery underwent a major refresh for the project and also holds the permanent exhibition, The World War, 1914-1919 . “The museum is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community ever since,” says Alex Westerh, vice president, global marketing at Electrosonic. “Working in partnership with a team of partners,
The National WWI Museum and Memorial has the largest collection of objects related to WWI in the world, making it the perfect location for this exhibit
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