Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan

Bringing the Legend to Life

A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.

– Genghis Khan

Presented by The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center Supported By NTDF, KCPT

The biographies of history’s most revered and feared military leaders often reveal complex human beings - individuals such as Alexander the Great, Napoleon and Julius Caesar. None, however, is more riveting, polarizing and misunderstood than that of the founder of the great Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan.

Genghis Khan was, indeed, a savage conqueror; a ruthless military leader in the 13th century. History describes him as a barbarian who led upwards of 120,000 nomadic soldiers on a campaign that would ultimately establish an empire that encompassed 12 million contiguous square miles throughout Asia and eastern Europe. Through destruction and intimidation, Genghis Khan ruled the majority of the known world at that time.

At the same time, Genghis Khan united many nomadic tribes, ultimately ruling over one million people in relative peace. He established a government based on meritocracy – granting positions

of power based on merit, not blood, obligation or class. Unlike other leaders of the time, he forbade the sale of women and instead granted them unprecedented freedom and power. He created one of the first international postal systems, popularized paper money, and even created a written language for his subjects.

Under his rule, he forbade theft of property and fighting. He advocated for literacy, religious freedom, and trade. And he successfully brought technology, language, and goods farther west than ever before. For these reasons and more, Genghis Khan was and is revered by the people of Mongolia as an innovator and national hero.

So, who was the real Genghis Khan? Villain or hero or both? Now is the time to discover for yourself the truth about the world’s greatest conqueror by exploring the culture, conquests and heritage at the latest world-class Union Station exhibition: Genghis Khan – Bringing the Legend to Life.

“On the grand scale of our wildly popular King Tut, Pompeii and Titanic exhibitions, Union Station invites visitors to take an epic journey back in time with one of history’s most enduring and controversial figures – Genghis Khan,” Union Station president and CEO, George Guastello, said. “Through brilliant original artifacts, live performers, stunning artwork, immersive surround elements and other historically significant items, guests of every age will discover the nearly-impossible true story of the world’s most prolific conqueror, civilizer and innovator.”

Starting early in Genghis Khan’s life, great hardships were all too common. His father was murdered and his mother subsequently

banished to raise her seven children as nomads on the brutal terrain of the Mongolian Steppe. In his 20’s, he was abducted and enslaved by rival clans, yet was able to escape through his own cunning. Perhaps that is where he developed his strong sense of spirituality – Khan was known to pray in his tent for multiple days before important campaigns and as a leader, passed laws declaring religious freedom for all, even granting tax exemptions to places of worship. His life was one of survival. There is no doubt that the survival instinct he developed played a large part in establishing him both as a formidable warrior, and leader.

“Visitors will experience life in 13th century Mongolia, entering the tents, battlegrounds and marketplaces of a vanished world,” Guastello, said. “Genghis Khan’s story – and those of his sons and grandsons during the formation, peak and decline of the Mongol Empire – is brought to life in this unforgettable and culturally important journey.”

With more than 200 spectacular objects and priceless artifacts, this is the largest exhibition collection from Genghis Khan’s Empire to ever tour. It showcases weapons of warfare such as a formidable array of swords, bows, arrows, saddles and armor as well as the relics of a rich culture such as costumes, jewels, ornaments and musical instruments. However, the exhibition is much more than a brilliant collection of artifacts; it’s an immersive experience.

“Union Station does not simply present exhibitions that are to be viewed; they are to be experienced,” Jerry Baber, executive vice president and COO, Union Station, said. “The goal is to educate and enhance our collective knowledge about the world around us - past, present and future. The best way to do that is through an immersive experience and that is what this exhibition does so well. In fact, that is the basis for Union Station’s stellar reputation on the world stage and it’s been proven again and again with our Members and guests.”

At the beginning of the journey, exhibition visitors will receive the identity of a Mongolian resident. Whether a warrior, spy or princess, visitors will follow their life throughout the rise of the great Mongol Empire across six key scenes and six unique galleries:

THE GRASSLANDS Discover the daily life of a nomad on the high plateaus of Central Asia and learn about the outcast Genghis Khan’s earliest struggles. Walk into an ancient Mongol ger (yurt) home. Stand in the midst of a herd of stampeding horses.

RISE OF THE MONGOLS Learn how the young, charismatic Genghis Khan united warring tribes in order to form an unrivaled cavalry. Explore the equestrian culture and innovations in weaponry Genghis Khan mastered to conquer four times more land than any Empire in history.

THE WALLED CITY Enter the recreation of Karakorum, the walled city, which became the capital of the Mongolian Empire after Genghis Khan’s son inherited the kingdom. See how life changed for Mongols once they had vanquished all of their enemies, and arts and diverse religions and cultures flourished as the need for war subsided.

THE SILK ROAD While Genghis Khan was a ruthless warrior, he was also a savvy statesman and benevolent ruler. He developed a written language and a sophisticated society with fair taxation, stable government, appreciation of the arts, religious freedom and open trade along the Silk Road. Explore this vital trade route which enabled the exchange of both goods and ideas between cultures.

THE PALACE OF KUBLAI KHAN Enter the sumptuous Chinese palace of Xanadu, the center of the Empire of Genghis’s grandson, Kublai, who united China for the first time. See porcelain treasures and a sword with the emblem of a guardian of Marco Polo, among many others.

MONGOLIA TODAY Trace the influence of Genghis Khan in images of modern Mongolian life. The distinctive horse-based culture of Genghis Khan’s time persists today as the nation and language he created lives on eight centuries after his rule. See how his legend lives on through the namesake of many modern Mongolian brands, and how he is revered as a god among the Mongolian people.

Adding to the cultural experience are daily performances by traditional artists from Mongolia. Performances are scheduled at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm daily with an additional 5 pm performance on Saturdays.

For additional information on this limited-time engagement, please visit GenghisKhanUSKC.com ■

Hours of Operation Monday thru Friday: 10am - 6pm Saturday: 10am - 7pm | Sunday: 10am - 5pm

Tickets & Pricing* • Member Price: $12.95 • General Admission Adult: $17.95 | Child: $14.95 • VIP Voucher: $21 (Adds flexibility to visit exhibition any time and reduces box office wait) • Groups: Adult $10/Child $9 (Available for groups of 10 or more)

Private events are available outside normal exhibit hours— usually during evenings (includes rental of Bank of America Gallery).

Grand Opening Featured Mongolian Ambassador to the U.S.

*A $1.25 Preservation Fee is added to the prices shown above and to every touring exhibition ticket to help preserve our historic building.