The Kansas City Museum: Living, Breathing, and Thriving
Three stories of history, art and a whole new view of Kansas City await you.
Photos by Christina Hocker
As I peered out of the third-floor window, admiring the fall colors and the downtown skyline peeking over the trees, I wondered how many Kansas Citians really know about this gem tucked into the heart of Kansas City. As a child, my paternal grandparents lived just off of Gladstone Boulevard, overlooking the industrial railroad yards. On hot summer days, when my cousin and I were bored, we would walk to the Kansas City Museum to cool off, explore, and get a soda from the fountain if we were lucky enough to actually have money that day. Twelve-year-old me was naive to the unique childhood that I experienced growing up in Northeast KC, and even more unaware of the rich history that flooded that incredible home I liked to explore.
My childhood memories of the Kansas City Museum were that of science and history. I would climb into the covered wagon, pretending to be a pioneer of the past, and giggle at the taxidermy dioramas. I knew it had been someone's home at one time, and its grandeur pulled me in, but so did all of the historic homes lining Gladstone Boulevard. This just happened to be the one I could regularly walk inside of.
From the outside, it looks like not much has changed. However, over the past ten years, a team of innovators, led by Executive Director Anna Marie Tutera, have been breathing new life into the museum guided by a beautiful vision and mission to share the story of our city’s vibrant history and promising future.
For my tour of the new Corinthian Hall, I was welcomed to the museum by Paul Gutiérrez, the Director of Visitor Experience & Public Programs. Paul’s smile, passion, and love for the museum are clearly why he is the perfect person for the role. All of it was contagious as I listened to him share the journey of each space and the possibilities for the future. It’s a journey that has been long, but is far from over.
The historical restoration of the first floor honors the original owners, lumber baron R.A. Long and family, and the home that it once was. You could spend hours examining the intricacies of the preservation - the marble details, wood paneling, ornate crown moldings, gold leaf, the tiered glass chandelier, and original furniture. My personal favorite has always been the grand staircase leading to the second floor.
While the majority of the museum allows for individual introspection and quiet admiration, the basement of the museum invites togetherness. Elixir, the new soda fountain concept, pays homage to the former soda fountain in the same space. Visitors can purchase snacks and drinks to enjoy there or on the grounds of the museum for a little picnic. A billiard room is just a few steps away where you can enjoy a game of pool or chess. The Tiffany style lamps, penny tile, and art deco gates all nod to the turn of the 20th century, but are complemented by modern elements that create a space that embraces you in a warm welcome. You almost expect the smell of sweet cigars in the air or to hear the vintage sound of Louis Armstrong in the background.
As you make your way to the second and third floors, you’ll notice works by local artists tucked into various nooks and crannies creating a juxtaposition of eclectic pieces against a traditional background. Murals, dioramas, sculptures and paintings share the unique perspective of local artists.
The second floor is where the vision and mission come to life even more fully as exhibits tell the story of our city: the good, the bad, and even the ugly. Using restorative practice, the four galleries encourage you to walk the timeline of our city’s rich history and hear the “whole story” - from the Native Americans who inhabited this land long before our ancestors to the government’s role in systemic racism. They highlight the beauty of the immigrants who came to Kansas City for a new life and the ugly “boss” politics that powered our government for a time. All of it combined brings on a new significance to the location you’re standing in. Northeast Kansas City echos of these stories and those who built this place, it deserves to be preserved and honored so that we are always aware of the roots that tie us to this city we continue to build.
While the second floor showcases some hardships, the third floor brings hope. A standout exhibit named "Our City, Our Stories" features a collection of individual tiles, sharing the diverse cultural and racial backgrounds of Kansas Citians today. These stories celebrate the ongoing efforts of individuals who contribute to building a city we can be proud of.
It was an absolute honor to walk with Paul as he shared his own experiences living in Kansas City and the work the museum team has put into transforming these grounds. As someone who grew up climbing that grand staircase and sipping phosphates at the soda fountain, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness for what would be revealed. Not only did Anna Marie and her team breathe new life into the museum, it’s evident that the collaborative relationships have built a living and breathing space on the past, present, and future of a thriving city I’m so proud to call home.
