International Cold War Exhibition The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. Now Open at Union Station Kansas City

Stand face-to-face with the Wall that divided the world. Experience the stories that tore it down.

KANSAS CITY, MO – Union Station leadership, alongside international exhibition producer Musealia, the Berlin Wall Foundation, Cold War historians, and supporting sponsors, gathered last night for an exclusive evening celebrating the North American premiere of The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. presented by Chase.

Opening as Kansas City welcomes visitors from across the country and around the globe this summer, the exhibition offers a timely opportunity to reflect on freedom, division, and the human stories of the Cold War that not only resonate across North America, but worldwide.

“This exhibition is ultimately about people,” George Guastello, Union Station President and CEO, said. “Families separated overnight. Ordinary citizens forced to choose between freedom and survival. A generation living under the constant shadow of fear and global division. As Kansas City welcomes the world this summer, we are honored to share an experience that reminds us what can happen when walls divide humanity — and what becomes possible when people come together instead.”

The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. spans 45 years of global history. An unprecedented collaboration with the Berlin Wall Foundation, which brings together a unique collection of more than 40 lenders from 20 international institutions, uncovering the experiences of people living on both sides of the wall through a collection of 200 original objects on public display for the first time in North America.

“The Berlin Wall story is deeply personal for my family,” Ray Kowalik, Union Station Board Chair, said. “My parents fled communist-controlled Poland searching for freedom and opportunity in the United States. Their journey reminds me that freedom is never guaranteed and should never be taken for granted. It is meaningful for Kansas City to host an exhibition that challenges us to reflect on the value of democracy, resilience, and human connection. I hope everyone makes it a priority to experience this history as it is presented in our very own, historic Union Station.”

The exhibition tells the story of the Berlin Wall in the context of the Cold War. Divided into four galleries, guests will experience A World Divided, Before the Wall, Division and Living with the Wall, and Global Transformation and the End of the Cold War. Each gallery is complemented with a free audio guide, available in English, Spanish, and French, which will offer a global look at the facts of history.

“The Berlin Wall became the defining symbol of a divided world,” said Luis Ferreiro, Director of Musealia. “But beyond politics and ideology are the stories of ordinary people who lived through separation, fear, and repression while still fighting for freedom and hope. More than 30 years after the Wall fell, those stories continue to resonate around the world.”

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE

Stand Face-to-Face with History: Encounter original fragments of the Berlin Wall and more than 200 authentic artifacts that survived one of the most tense and dangerous periods in modern history.

Step Into a Divided World: Walk through immersive environments that place you inside Cold War Berlin — where every street, checkpoint, and conversation carried risk.

Experience the Human Stories: Hear deeply personal accounts of separation, survival, resistance, and impossible choices from people who lived through life behind the Wall.

Feel the Tension of the Cold War: Discover how fear of nuclear war, political propaganda, surveillance, and ideological conflict shaped daily life — not only in Berlin, but in homes and classrooms across America.

Ask Yourself the Hard Question: If your freedom, family, and future were suddenly divided by a wall…what would you have done?

“We’re honored to sponsor The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. at Union Station in Kansas City,” said Nate Tesmer, Commercial Banking Region Manager and Chair of the Central States Market Leadership Team at JPMorganChase. “At JPMorganChase, investing in the places we serve includes supporting institutions like Union Station that can bring our community together through unique experiences and historical exhibits.”

As Kansas City takes its place on the international stage this summer, The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. offers visitors from around the world an opportunity to experience a story that transcends borders — reminding us that freedom, unity, and human connection are values shared across every culture and generation.

The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. is now open at Union Station Kansas City, a Smithsonian Affiliate. Tickets are available online at UnionStation.org.

General Admission: (Plus 10% Preservation Fee)

Adult                       $26.00

Senior (65+)            $23.00

Military                   $23.00*

Child (4-12)            $15.00

Member                  $15.00

Member Child        $15.00

School Group         $10.00

Adult Group           $15.00

*Military tickets are available for purchase in person only at Ticketing. Must present military ID.

 Regular Operating Hours:

Monday – Friday – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Last entry at 3:00 pm)
Saturday – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Last entry at 4:00 pm)

Sunday – 11:00 am – 6:00 pm (Last entry at 4:00 pm)

The Berlin Wall. A World Divided. is an exhibition by the Spanish company Musealia in collaboration with the Berlin Wall Foundation, the German institution that looks after the historical legacy and memory of the victims of the communist regime in East Germany.

Additionally, Union Station wishes to thank the following sponsors for their continued support in bringing this exhibition to Kansas City: Chase, the Kowalik Family Foundation, The Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation, Forvis Mazars, KMBC9, The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, JE Dunn, Mike and Marlys Haverty, Metropolitan Community College, Ann Baum, G Kenneth and Ann Baum Philanthropic Fund.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA: Electronic press kit containing hi-res images and video are available for download here.

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Union Station Kansas City — a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and a Smithsonian Affiliate– is a 112-year-old historical landmark and celebrated civic asset renovated and reopened to the public in 1999. Recently awarded “Favorite Attraction”, “Favorite Family-Friendly Attraction” and “Favorite Historic Attraction”, the organization — dedicated to science education, celebration of community and preservation of history — is home to Kansas City’s internationally-awarded Science City; the new Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium; the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre; the popular Model Railroad Experience; City Stage featuring live theater, and a selection of unique shops and restaurants. Union Station is also home to prominent area civic organizations and businesses and regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions as was proud to host the 2015 Royals World Series Championship Parade/Rally and the 2020 and 2023 Chiefs Super Bowl Parades/Rallies plus the recent 2023 NFL Draft. Awarded “Top Banquet Facilities in KC” by KC Business Journal, the facility annually hosts hundreds of community events and private celebrations of all sizes. Visit unionstation.org for details. Also, follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and YOUTUBE.