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History Reimagined at 21c Kansas City Feed, nourish, and refresh your soul at 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City. Let contemporary art surround you in this museum, boutique hotel, and chef-driven restaurant, nestled between the Power & Light district and River Market in downtown Kansas City. MUSEUM – Contemporary art is the core of 21c. As North America’s only multi-venue museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting art of the 21st century, 21c Museum brings a new cultural resource to the city’s vibrant art scene. From rotating, curated exhibitions, to site-specific installations and cultural programming, 21c Museum offers the local and traveling community unprecedented access to the work of some of today’s emerging artists. Free and open to the public 365 days/year. Always. Guided museum tours offered every WED + FRI at 5pm.

Alexandar Majors House Museum

Museum

The Majors House was built in 1856 and is one of the few surviving Kansas City homes from the Civil War era. The house originally served as the base of operations for Alexander Majors’ overland shipping company, Russell, Majors & Waddell. Majors was instrumental in the opening of the West, both because of his freighting companies, and his part-ownership of the Pony Express. The Museum is set up as it might have been during the time Majors lived there and includes authentic period furnishings and artifacts relating to Majors’ life. Visitors to the Alexander Majors House Museum will learn about many topics, including: The shipping firm of Russell, Majors, & Waddell Daily life in the mid-nineteenth century The Pony Express Westward expansion Slavery at the Majors homestead and in Missouri And more – tours at the Majors House are flexible and are crafted to fit the needs of the individuals on each tour. No two tours are exactly alike!

American Jazz Museum

Museum ; Music

Located in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, MO, the American Jazz Museum showcases the sights and sounds of jazz through interactive exhibits and films, the Changing Gallery exhibit space, Horace M. Peterson III Visitors Center, Blue Room jazz club and Gem Theater. Since its inception in 1997, the Museum hosts thousands of students, scholars, musicians and fans of the arts for over 200 performances, education programs, special exhibitions, community events and more each year, providing an opportunity to learn about the legends, honor their legacy, or simply enjoy the sounds of modern day jazz.

Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum

Museum

The Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum is an historic house museum (also known as the Krause Mini Mansion), in Platte City, Missouri. It is located only a few blocks from Main Street and nine miles north of KCI via 1-29. This 1882-built mini mansion’s exterior is brick with limestone corner quoins, a mansard roof and ornate grill work. Frederick Krause, the builder, found inspiration for these features after visiting the Governor’s mansion in Jefferson City in the 1870s. The interior is restored and furnished to period. The museum season runs from late April through early October with a Christmas open house that coincides with Platte City’s lighting festival in November. The Platte County Historical Society operates the museum to include a genealogical and research area in the basement.

Crown Center

Art ; Dance ; Gallery ; Literary ; Museum ; Music ; Outdoor ; Performing Arts Center ; Theater

In the early 1960s, the area where Crown Center sits was filled with rutted parking lots, abandoned warehouses and a limestone hill cluttered with signs. Crown Center reversed that decline and became one of the nation’s first mixed-use redevelopments. Today, it’s an 85-acre complex that welcomes more than five million visitors each year, and has spurred remarkable redevelopment nearby.

Hallmark Visitors Center

Art ; Museum

The Hallmark Visitors Center is located in the Crown Center complex, in downtown Kansas City, MO. It offers something for everyone. We welcome you to spend a few minutes or stay all day. Admission is free. Reservations are required for groups of 15 or more. Please complete the online form to reserve your group visit. The Hallmark Visitors Center is situated all on one level and tours are self-guided. Our hours of operation are listed below.

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Library ; Museum

The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is one of fourteen Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The exhibits in the Library’s museum emphasize the Life and Times of Harry S. Truman and the Truman Presidency. Among the permanent exhibits are a mural painting in the entrance lobby, “Independence and the Opening of the West,” by Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton; a reproduction of the Oval Office as it was during the Truman administration; and the office which Truman used in his retirement years. At present the Library has about 16,000,000 pages of manuscript materials in its custody. Approximately 6,500,000 are the White House files. In addition to its manuscript collections, the Library also has an audiovisual collection consisting of about 112,000 still pictures, 1,000 hours of audio disc and tape recordings, 400 motion pictures and 75 hours of video tape recordings. The Library’s collection of printed materials includes more than 30,000 books, 10,000 serials and 1,400 microfilm copies of printed materials. In adding to the book collection, the Library attempts to purchase any new books on the history of the Truman administration or relating to the career of Harry S. Truman.

Historic Garment District Museum

Gallery ; Museum

The Kansas City Museum has acquired more than 300 Kansas City-made garments and accessories from the Historic Garment District Museum, which was founded and opened in 2002 by Ann Brownfield and Harvey Fried. Ann and Harvey operated the museum since its opening with public hours on Saturdays and special tours by appointment. In 2015, Ann and Harvey decided to retire from the daily operations of the museum. Along with donating the collection, they requested that the City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department operate the Historic Garment District Museum at its current Broadway location, which includes establishing new open hours for the public, developing programs and exhibitions, and managing the collection. The Garment District Place Park, dedicated in 2010 by Parks and Recreation, is located across Broadway from the museum. The park has a fountain and a 22-foot “Needle” sculpture as tribute to the Garment District’s legacy. Many of the buildings nearby the Historic Garment District Museum date back to the 1870s and are on the National Register of Historic Places. The manufacture of coats, suits, dresses, hats, and children’s wear started on the upper floors of the wholesale dry goods buildings in the early 1920s. After World War I and through the 1940s, the area employed more than 4,000 people and boasted that one out of every seven women in the United States purchased a Kansas City-made garment. Manufacturing of garments was the second largest employer of any industry in Kansas City, Mo. The Historic Garment District Museum’s collection of Kansas City-made garments and accessories allows the Kansas City Museum to add to its stellar collection of historical clothing, textiles, and costumes, which is comprised of more than 20,000 items in the Museum’s collection and is one of the best collections of its kind in the region. ______________________________________________________________ The City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department operates and manages both the Kansas City Museum (3218 Gladstone Blvd.) and the Historic Garment District Museum of Kansas City, located in the heart of the old Garment District, in DST’s Poindexter building at 801 Broadway Blvd. between 6th and 11th streets and Washington and Wyandotte streets. Admission to the Historic Garment District Museum is FREE. Street parking is available. Historic Garment District Museum HOURS Wednesday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (starting on August 23).

John Wornall House Museum

Museum

The Wornall House was built in 1858 and is one of the few surviving Kansas City homes from the Civil War era. The house has been almost continuously owned by the Wornall family until the death of John Wornall Jr. in 1962. It was opened as Kansas City’s first house museum in 1972 and has been sharing stories of the past with visitors since then. The Museum is set up as it might have been during the Civil War and includes authentic period furnishings, including those belonging to the Wornall family, as well as artifacts and information relating to the Battle of Westport. Visitors to the John Wornall House Museum will learn about many topics, including: Stories from the Wornall family Frontier farm life in the mid-nineteenth century The Battle of Westport & Civil War medicine Slavery at the Wornall homestead and in Missouri The Border War and the Civil War in Kansas City & surrounding area And more – tours at the Wornall House are flexible and are crafted to fit the needs of the individuals on each tour. No two tours are exactly alike!

Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center

Art ; Dance ; Gallery ; Literary ; Museum ; Music ; Performing Arts Center ; Theater

The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, managed by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, is home to Theatre in the Park, the Johnson County Museum, and Fine & Performing Arts programs, exhibitions, and special events.

Kansas City Museum

Museum

The Kansas City Museum is closed temporarily for regular hours to prepare Corinthian Hall for construction. During construction, the Museum will host special offsite exhibitions and on-site programs and events on the Museum grounds.

Kansas City Museum at the Historic Garment Distric...

Art ; Dance ; Gallery ; Museum ; Music ; Outdoor ; Performing Arts Center

On August 23, 2017, the Kansas City Museum will open the Kansas City Museum at the Historic Garment District (KCM@HGD), a new special exhibition and programming space located at 800 Broadway Blvd. on the first floor of the historic 800 Broadway Building at the northwest corner of 8th St. and Broadway Blvd. in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The KCM@HGD provides 3,300 square feet for exhibitions, programs, and events, and it is adjacent to Garment District Place Park. In addition, the KCM@HGD is across the street from the Historic Garment District Museum, a 1,000 square-foot space located at 801 Broadway in the historic Poindexter Building at the northeast corner of 8th St. and Broadway Blvd. The Kansas City Museum at the Historic Garment District (KCM@HGD) will offer special exhibitions that display historical items from the Kansas City Museum’s collections and also present contemporary works by local fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and artists. The Historic Garment District Museum will continue to celebrate the people who worked in Kansas City’s Garment District by showcasing the companies for which they worked, the clothing they made, and the equipment they used. The Historic Garment District Museum displays 25-35 garments, that are changed seasonally, and demonstrate the variety of materials and styles of predominantly the 1940s through the 1970s. Currently on display is light clothing for summer wear. Starting on August 23, 2017, both the Kansas City Museum at the Historic Garment District (KCM@HGD) and the Historic Garment District Museum will be open Wednesday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

Art ; Museum

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (Kansas City, Missouri) is temporarily closed to support Kansas City’s effort to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Kansas City’s acclaimed, FREE contemporary art museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 1994 and draws nearly 100,000 visitors each year. Presenting a dozen exhibitions each year featuring works by well-known, mid-career, and emerging artists, Kemper Museum boasts a rapidly growing Permanent Collection of modern and contemporary works of artists from around the world. Learn more at kemperart.org.

Museum at Prairiefire

Museum

Through a unique collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, as well as with other cultural and educational institutions in the nation, the Museum at Prairiefire is a place that provides access for all to understand and celebrate natural history and science in our region and around the world. The Museum engages visitors and students with world-class exhibitions, important programming, and significant educational and STEM opportunities.

National WWI Museum and Memorial

Museum

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum and Memorial takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National WWI Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Art ; Gallery ; Museum

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (NMOCA) has one of the top internationally acclaimed collections of emerging and established artists today. Public Art Review magazine named JCCC/NMOCA as one of the top 10 university/college campuses for public art in America, citing the sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photography and works on paper installed throughout campus. The museum presents many of the region’s most important exhibitions of leading-edge contemporary art, as well as dynamic and diverse educational programming.

The Blue Room

Museum ; Music

Named after the famed 1930s Street Hotel club in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, the Blue Room simultaneously honors the past and showcases the present names in jazz. A multifaceted exhibit highlighting the countless musicians who crafted “Kansas City jazz,” a sound known all over the world, the Blue Room also provides a distinctive platform to present dynamic performances from the best local and national jazz talent in an intimate setting. Come down, bring your instrument and sit in at the weekly Blue Monday Jam – or just take in the sounds of one of Kansas City’s best jam sessions. Big bands typically perform the last Monday of each month, and our Latin Jazz/Salsa series gets shakin’ on the last Thursday of each month (except where otherwise noted on the calendar). At the Blue Room, upcoming bands, seasoned veterans of the local jazz scene, national talent and internationally renowned jazz artists share the spotlight.

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

Museum

The National Museum of Toy and Miniatures educates, inspires, and delights adults and children through the museum’s collection and preservation of toys and miniatures. Located on the University of Missouri – Kansas City campus, the museum exhibits the world’s largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and one of the nation’s largest collections of antique toys.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Gallery ; Museum

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art arose from the instincts and ambitions of two private individuals who shared the dream of providing a public art museum for Kansas City and the surrounding region. William Rockhill Nelson, founder of The Kansas City Star, was convinced that for a city to be truly civilized, art and culture were necessities. When he died in 1915, the bulk of his estate was used to establish the William Rockhill Nelson Trust for the purchase of works of art “which will contribute to the delectation and enjoyment of the public generally.” Kansas City school teacher Mary McAfee Atkins had similar aspirations for her city. Although relatively unknown, she provided the city with approximately one-third of her million-dollar estate to purchase the land for a public art museum. The Nelson estate was combined with Mary Atkins’ legacy to build an art museum for the people of Kansas City. The William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and the Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts opened to the public on Dec. 11, 1933. On June 9, 2007, the Nelson-Atkins unveiled the Bloch Building, an addition designed by Steven Holl Architects, which increased gallery and storage space for the growing collection. Today, the Nelson-Atkins maintains collections of more than 35,000 works of art and welcomes 500,000 visitors a year.

The Owens-Rogers House: Birthplace of Ginger Roger...

Museum

This 1906 Craftsman Bungalow is the home of The Ginger House Museum, which is the birthplace of famed actress/dancer/singer Ginger Rogers. Rogers made 73 films, starred on Broadway and Vaudeville, and appeared in numerous radio and TV shows. She is best known for her 10 films with partner Fred Astaire. The museum opened in August of 2018 and features photos, movie posters, memorabilia, family history, and items that Ginger Rogers owned and wore including the gown she wore to the 1967 Academy Awards ceremony. Special displays in October, November, December, and January. The museum hosts the annual Ginger Rogers Festival in July. The site was designated as a Historic Landmark Property in 1994 by the City of Independence. Groups of 10 or more must register in advance. Please visit the website for more information at www.owensrogersmuseum.com

Union Station Kansas City

Museum

Originally constructed in 1914 as a massive railroad terminal, Union Station quickly became a centering point for commerce, culture and community. Today, over 100 years later, Union Station Kansas City — a 501(c)3 non-profit organization – has reclaimed those monikers and added more. Today, this historic self-sustaining landmark located in the heart of downtown Kansas City is where our citizens connect, create, discover and celebrate. We incubate young businesses. We teach young students. We deliver world-class exhibitions. And, of course, we celebrate and inspire an entire Greater Kansas City community. In 2017 alone, the community and region generously recognized the Station and Science City with awards for “Attraction of the Year,” “Favorite Family-Friendly Attraction” and “Favorite Historic Attraction.”

Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City

Museum

Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City sparks a lifelong love of learning through the power of play. Wonderscope is a family-friendly place full of imaginative, interactive experiences where young children and adults can explore and discover the adventure of learning together.

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