Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Issues concerning Downtown as described by the Downtown Council. River to 31st Street, I-35 to Bruce R. Watkins.
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FangKC
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by FangKC »

I've read stories in the past year about selfie-taking causing deaths. There have been several deaths at the Grand Canyon in past months, and I recall some danger-junkie guy known for climbing atop buildings fell to his death doing it.
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by WSPanic »

They are constantly using the PA system there to keep people off that thing.
moderne
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by moderne »

Scroll down to see the fantastic design by Bertram Goodhue(Nebraska Statehouse) for the LM. A giant Greek goddess sheltered by an art deco temple.
http://beyondarchitecturalillustration. ... odhue.html
Probably not feasible with given budget.
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FangKC
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by FangKC »

I found another example of a cascading water fountain design for the north lawn of the Liberty Memorial.

It's Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel, Germany.

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https://i.imgur.com/sSK6w4A.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Ia10JuL.jpg

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http://www.castleholic.com/2014/08/berg ... sited.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... h6H1ydAfhU

Google Streetview:

https://tinyurl.com/y4x8onc2

Aerial view:

https://tinyurl.com/y2rlok29
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Midtownkid
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by Midtownkid »

:x :x :x Some assholes defaced the Dedication Wall at the memorial last night. Red spray paint on the bronze busts and across the limestone wall.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/c ... 77208.html
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

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Midtownkid wrote: Tue Jun 18, 2019 1:23 pm :x :x :x Some assholes defaced the Dedication Wall at the memorial last night. Red spray paint on the bronze busts and across the limestone wall.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/c ... 77208.html
Disgraceful. Heard they did it to the scout statue too :(
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by earthling »

I walked by today and it's already cleaned up nicely.

What's up with Peruvian protest graffiti around city... from decades ago?
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

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Oddly specific
earthling
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by earthling »

Image

"Glory to the fallen martyrs," referring to prison riots on a Peruvian island in 1986.
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by KCKev2 »

I suspect this was done to raise awareness.

Mission accomplished.

We are now aware the culprits are assholes.
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TheLastGentleman
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by TheLastGentleman »

News crew on the site

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Tangentially related, but the memorial's grounds are looking really shabby and have been for what seems like a few years now

The bench on the left has been missing its seat for a while

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Lots of cracked stonework

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Walls are grimey

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Rough landscaping

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None of the fountains work

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FangKC
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by FangKC »

Last restoration was completed in 2006.
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by johnmatrix »

Wow I work out there quite a bit and didn't notice most of that stuff. Good eye.
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by KCKev2 »

Replacement trees were planted along the mall this spring. They have next to no root structure, and, as a result, blow out of the ground on windy days. They have been staked and still blow over. A good number are already dead.

I don't understand why the Memorial is not better maintained. Is money the issue? I recently took out-of-town visitors to the Museum and was surprised that admission was $18 a person. I don't know the annual attendance, but, on the Saturday we went, there were easily several hundred people there. And what are the expenses besides heating/cooling and maintenance. Aren't most of the exhibit items donated and most of the staff volunteers?

If money is the issue, I'm sure all they need to do is ask. The Memorial and Museum draw visitors from around the world and seem to be the kind of people who would donate to a restoration fund if only asked.
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by scooterj »

With all the work they did to get it spruced up for the WW1 centennial, I'm surprised it looks this bad already. Though I can honestly say that it's been a very long time since I have noticed any of the fountains actually running.
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by im2kull »

FangKC wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2019 2:35 pm Last restoration was completed in 2006.
Restoration? What happened to routine maintenance?

Is it a millennial thing to think that you can just build something and walk away with it lasting forever? Maintenance and routine upkeep don't seem to be a thing in any developments these days. It's beyond stupid.
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by normalthings »

KCKev2 wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2019 3:58 pm Replacement trees were planted along the mall this spring. They have next to no root structure, and, as a result, blow out of the ground on windy days. They have been staked and still blow over. A good number are already dead.

I don't understand why the Memorial is not better maintained. Is money the issue? I recently took out-of-town visitors to the Museum and was surprised that admission was $18 a person. I don't know the annual attendance, but, on the Saturday we went, there were easily several hundred people there. And what are the expenses besides heating/cooling and maintenance. Aren't most of the exhibit items donated and most of the staff volunteers?

If money is the issue, I'm sure all they need to do is ask. The Memorial and Museum draw visitors from around the world and seem to be the kind of people who would donate to a restoration fund if only asked.
The museum has struggled with funding for most of its existence. This may be changing as attendance and overall interest has risen sharply in the past few years.

The 2018 annual reports notes the following: 650k guests in 2018, Tickets account for 25% of the museum’s revenues, 60% of revenue from philanthropy. No financial specific reports are available. 2018 was truly a banner year for the museum. Attendance was up over 30% YOY vs 2017 and the museum was able to attract big outside donors as part of the Centennial Celebration. Over the past 4 years, attendance has increased over 180%. The museums net asset value doubled between 2014-2017 as well.

https://www.theworldwar.org/financials
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beautyfromashes
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by beautyfromashes »

I thought this was a national monument now. Why should funding be an issue? I assumed it was being maintained by the federal parks service. It has gotten bad though. There is always standing water on the west stairs which will likely cause issues in the future.
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normalthings
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Re: Liberty Memorial Musuem and Penn Valley Park

Post by normalthings »

beautyfromashes wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:41 am I thought this was a national monument now. Why should funding be an issue? I assumed it was being maintained by the federal parks service. It has gotten bad though. There is always standing water on the west stairs which will likely cause issues in the future.
The monument is owned by the city who pays a yearly fee ~$650k to the museum nonprofit to operate(contract up in 2032). Government and Statutory funding made up 6% of 2018 museums revenues. Very little if any Federal support or funding for the Memorial other than a name designation.
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