Resource Center

Patriotism can unify communities in powerful ways — like Kansas City, Missouri. Within a 10-day period in 1919, over 83,000 citizens raised $10 million — $40 million in today’s economy — for a single, shared goal. Inspired by the

end of the First World War, they were determined to build a memorial to honor the 15 million who lost their lives.

This impassioned effort produced the Liberty Memorial, dedicated on November 11, 1926. Though the glory of that day lives on, the memorial itself suffered over time, and was closed to the public in November 1994 due to serious structural damage. 

Nearly 80 years after the site’s original dedication (1926), the patriotic seeds that gave life to the Liberty Memorial remain firmly in place. On August 4, 1998, Kansas City voters passed an 18-month five cent sales tax to raise $30 million to help fund the massive rehabilitation. The site reopened in 2002.

It goes without saying that this renovation has been unique. Enduring, cost-effective quality has been the priority, which is why the Hydrotech Ultimate Assembly® was selected for the 50,000 SF plaza surrounding the memorial. Combining durability and aesthetics, the Ultimate Assembly integrates Monolithic Membrane 6125® waterproofing with Hydrotech’s design-savvy architectural pavers. After all, irreplaceable artifacts in the museum will need protection from Missouri winters, and the plaza is a focal point of the site. Neither quality nor appearance could be sacrificed. Neither has been. 

Thanks to the community that has supported the project since 1919, the site will soon put their work, and our national pride, on public display.