KANSAS CITY, MO.- The National WWI Museum and Memorial announced a gift of $1 million from Brad and Libby Bergman to create a dedicated open storage and learning space. When coupled with a new staircase from the main level, these improvements will allow the Museum and Memorial to showcase thousands of objects currently in secure storage and provide the opportunity for visitors to see behind the scenes of museum operations. The initiative supports the Museum and Memorial’s multi-year strategic plan and provides critical updates that will allow the Museum and Memorial to continue to grow both its collection and its visitorship.

The new open study and collections area will be named in honor of the Bergman Family. With approximately 4,000 square feet of storage and a 190-foot ‘coast-line’ of cases, this space will allow the Museum and Memorial to display objects and artifacts otherwise unavailable to visitors, enable visitors to see collection staff at work and create additional spaces for small groups and students to learn about the collection and the enduring impact of World War I.

“The Bergmans have been strong supporters of the Museum and Memorial since our modern Museum space opened 15 years ago. The opportunity to name this space for the Bergmans is appropriate given their commitment to our work and the expansion of our collection,” said Dr. Matthew Naylor, President and CEO of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. “As the Museum and Memorial’s collection continues to grow – and it will, given our targeted collecting initiatives in the coming years – storage that allows students and visitors to have more access to personal objects that tell remarkable stories is even more critical to our work.”

"Our family is excited about the museum’s dynamic future," said Brad Bergman. "The National WWI Museum and Memorial is one of the most culturally significant institutions in the United States, and we are enthusiastic about this opportunity to help educate our beloved community for years to come."

The Bergman family’s financial support of the Museum and Memorial dates back to 2007. Brad Bergman was a Museum and Memorial Board of Trustee from 2011 to 2020 and served as the Chair of the Collections Committee for many years. Bergman was instrumental in fundraising efforts for the “Call to Duty” campaign that created the Wylie Gallery exhibition space in 2017. In 2019, Brad and Libby Bergman were Event Co-Chairs for the Museum and Memorial’s annual gala, Night at the Tower.