Category: History

Murals, Murals Everywhere in Kansas City, Kansas

May. 01, 2021

Uncovering the color of Kansas City, KS, little by little I’m always looking for the art in everything, even if I have to force it. Never satisfied with the amount of art I’ve got, I always seek more. The last time I was out to eat, my girlfriend, Michaela, laughed at me because I rearranged the salt shakers, utensils and menus into a Frank Lloyd Wright house and called it good. When I walk through mud, I make patterns with my shoes as if I were designing fabric for a premiere runway. In art…

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A Step Back in Time

May. 01, 2021

Finding bits of Americana among the rich history of Kansas City, Kansas Since becoming a state in 1861—not quite a hundred years before I was born—Kansas City, Kan. has packed a great deal of history and heritage into the last century and a half. As a couple of dedicated history buffs, my husband Raymond and I were excited to visit the city and check a few items off ye olde “historical” bucket list. We especially looked forward to getting off the typical tourist path and exploring the Freedom’s…

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Discovering the Fierce Females of Kansas City, Kansas

By Guest Blogger on Feb. 01, 2021

Three generations of women discover the true meaning of girl power in Kansas City, Kansas Lyda Conley fascinates me. I wish I had known about her in high school, when I was struggling to write a paper titled “If you could go back in time and have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?” Now the answer was obvious to me: Lyda Conley. But I was long out of high school when I first saw a mural with her image on the side of a building in Kansas City, Kan. The mural made such an impression…

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A War Memorial Tour in Kansas City, KS

Jan. 01, 2021

When I think of my dad, I think of a lot of different things. I think of his hands steadying the seat of my bike as I pedaled my way down the sidewalk. I remember his wink as we both snuck a second popsicle on a hot summer evening. I think of my horror in finding that I’d been placed in his history class in ninth grade, and I think of the sheer joy and pride that shone on his face when I was accepted to college. There are other memories in there too—the furrow in his brow when he grounded me…

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Kansas City, KS: A City of Murals

By Guest Blogger on Sep. 13, 2020

Murals change the landscape of a community, bringing together colors and paint to celebrate the history and diversity of an area…

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5 Ways to Celebrate Charlie Parker All Month Long

By Rebekah Bryer on Aug. 06, 2020

August 29th marks what would be the 100th birthday of the Kansas City, KS born Jazz legend Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. Known for his smooth alto saxophone, Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading musician in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, technique, and advanced harmonies. Parker was raised in KCMO, near the Westport area. He began playing sax at the young age of 11 and later joined his school band at Lincoln High School. He left school in…

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A 3 Day History Buff Itinerary in Kansas City, KS

By Guest Blogger on Jan. 16, 2020

Kansas City, KS will bring out the history buff in you! Travel back in time and discover our rich history as you make your way through the city visiting local museums and historical sites…

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Familiar Faces in Kansas City, KS: Greg Gant, Kansas City Cupcake Co. Cafe

By Guest Blogger on Jan. 06, 2020

You'll see a lot of friendly local faces in Kansas City, KS. Here's one to remember! Greg Gant, manager of the Kansas City Cupcake Co. Cafe…

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A Day to Blend the Old with the New

By Jeff & Crystal on Sep. 26, 2017

On a beautiful Fall morning, we headed off to see what the day held. We needed a caffeine fix to get us started. This made the decision of our first stop simple. We had seen a lot of social media buzz about a new coffee shop in the Strawberry Hill district. As we exited I-70 onto Central Avenue, we could already see the cars lining the street in front of Splitlog Coffee. ​…

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Historical Homes in Kansas City, KS

By Rebekah Bryer on Sep. 30, 2016

With no real majority of ethnicity, Kansas City, KS is a true melting pot of culture, and has been since its beginning! There are many museums and historical sites throughout the city that cover its fascinating history and tell the stories of the different ethnic groups that have made it what it is today. But there are three museums in particular that provide an even deeper look into the past…

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