The Museum of BBQ Is an Immersive Experience for All Ages

The world's first museum dedicated to BBQ, located in Kansas City, is filled with entertaining exhibits that excite the senses.

On April 12th, the Museum of BBQ, the world’s first museum dedicated exclusively to highlighting the history and significance of our favorite cuisine, officially opened in Kansas City. The museum’s grand opening fortunately coincided with Spring Break for my 11-year-old son, Henry, and we wanted to be among the first people to experience all that the new spot had to offer.

The museum is located in the heart of Kansas City’s Crown Center, a popular destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment that includes shops and restaurants, live theater, and the Hallmark Visitors Center. Crown Center is adjacent to the National World War I Museum and Memorial and Union Station, and the area is perhaps one of Kansas City’s most iconic spots.

We ordered our tickets online and after parking (level 2A in the covered parking garage), we entered Crown Center only a few steps away from the museum entrance. Duke, the famous canine mascot from Bush’s Baked Beans commercials, was very sweetly and patiently taking photos with visitors. Henry is allergic to dogs, but we didn’t want to miss our chance to take a picture with Duke.

Before entering the museum, we were greeted by Museum of BBQ founders Jonathan Bender, an author and barbecue judge, and Alex Pope, who owns the acclaimed Kansas City butcher shop The Local Pig. “The first rule of the Museum of BBQ is have fun,” said Bender.

After we checked in, the doors opened and we entered the first exhibit on butchery and barbecue cuts. It was obvious from the start that this was not going to be a tedious and boring history lesson. Rather, the numerous installations at the Museum of BBQ are hands-on, interactive experiences. Henry was able to learn about the various pork cuts in barbecue by solving “The Big Pig Puzzle” exhibit.

In addition to the interactive exhibits, there was a wealth of information for those who would want to dive deep into the world of barbecue, with exhibits on seasonings and rubs, types of smokers, and wood and smoke. While I was reading about the various elements that go into cooking barbecue, Henry was having a blast doing the ring toss challenge.

One of the most interesting multisensory exhibits tested your ability to identify the aroma of individual components commonly found in barbecue rubs. I am ashamed to admit that I failed miserably. I don’t think I was correct even one time!

It wouldn’t be Kansas City without a discussion of barbecue sauce, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the most famous sauces from across the country were included. Next came the area of the museum dedicated to the four preeminent regions in barbecue: the Carolinas, Memphis, Texas, and of course — Kansas City. Visitors learn about the history, traditions, and styles of barbecue that are unique to each region.

The Carolinas were highlighted in the first of the regional museum exhibits, with a particular emphasis on the geography of the distinct cuts and flavors found in North and South Carolina. The South Carolina “mustard belt” exhibit included a pro wrestling-style photo opportunity that we could not pass up.

The Memphis exhibit had a colorful mural showing Beale Street and many of the city’s most famous barbecue joints. For most kids, the ultimate immersive highlight of the museum was up next — a giant “bean” pit that visitors can literally dive into. Children and the young at heart alike had a blast diving into the giant bowl filled with 8,000 plastic “beans” again and again.

Visitors were encouraged to write down and share their favorite recommendations for barbecue restaurants in their hometown. While there were certainly many Kansas City recommendations, I was surprised to see restaurants from across the country, and we included our favorites from Omaha. The Texas exhibit followed and was packed with information and included both historic and contemporary exhibits on barbecue in the Lone Star State.

The Museum of BBQ ends with a comprehensive look at Kansas City’s barbecue tradition. The exhibits emphasize Kansas City’s most significant contributions to barbecue, including burnt ends, the city’s famous sweet and tangy sauce, and the thriving world of competition barbecue.

Upon exiting the museum exhibits, we explored the gift shop, which includes an impressive selection of sauces and seasonings, as well as souvenirs for all ages. We could not leave without getting shirts and hats for everyone. I also had the chance to chat a bit more with both Bender and Pope, who were genuinely interested in learning about the barbecue joints we planned to visit in KC. Pope suggested some of his favorite spots in town and offered some sage advice: “Be sure you pace yourself,” he said.

On social media, we later found out that we missed seeing several friends and prominent figures from the barbecue community, including Barbecue Hall of Famer Ardie Davis, Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn, Barbecue News Magazine publishers Kell and Janet Phelps, Burnt Finger BBQ pitmasters Jason and Megan Day, and many more. Perhaps that is the result of the museum’s unique design, which is comprised of a series of smaller, immersive exhibits, allowing visitors to focus on unique topics without becoming overwhelmed or feeling crowded with other visitors.

My favorite part of the Museum of BBQ was that it has something for everyone, including and especially families with young kids. My son had a lot of fun and even learned a lot of new things about barbecue in an entertaining way. He even mentioned that he would like to try cooking barbecue with me sometime!

The next time you are in Kansas City, work up your appetite ahead of your barbecue crawl at the Museum of BBQ.

Ryan Cooper
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet