The Most Delectable Landmarks & Historical Buildings in Kansas City

The Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"In 1952 residents living in the northland area referred to as Linden, decided to incorporate to fend off the city of Kansas City which had started to annex land north of the river 2 years prior. Thus the city of Gladstone born - the metro's most generic, boring and artificial suburb. Recently city leaders realizing that since they are completely surrounded by KC and have no where to grow, started working on reasons for people to want to live in or visit the city named after a telephone prefix. Gladstone now has a new glossy fake downtown and The Atkins - Johnson Farm and Museum; the city's only museum or cultural attraction. A large plot of land on Gladstone's eastern edge has been turned into a heritage area which encompasses the preserved homestead built in the 1840s. The house can be toured and there are also out buildings, a community garden, picnic areas and a concrete walking trail that leads to The Big Shoal historic cemetery.It is hard to believe once you are on the property that you are in still in Gladstone and not many miles away in the rural countryside.Is this a destination worthy of driving across the metro to see? Probably not. There are many types of these preservation type projects around, but it does seem to be an underutilized space for area residents to learn a little history, hike the countryside or gather for a picnic in the shade of some tall trees on a spacious farmhouse lawn."

Watkins Museum of History

★★★★☆ 4.4 (5)

"We spent at least an hour and a half here and I easily could have stayed longer but we had to move on. The Watkins Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Watkins bank and mortgage building, itself an important part of Lawrence history. They have some wonderful exhibits about the history of the city and I found the one about Quantrill's raid to be particularly interesting. Lots of fun artifacts and some interactive displays to entice children to take an interest in history too.The price is right--it's free but I would encourage visitors to leave a nice donation."

Buck O'Neill Bridge

"I'm trying to Buck the trend by writing a review of the Buck O Neill bridge.One of many bridges new Downtown Kansas City which is a much more beautiful and expansive downtown than you would imagine - which makes sense since it's the only major city for many miles in any direction, and is really the regional hub for hundreds of miles in any direction.So as you'll see, this is a great bridge and one which the city needed. It's the bridge the city needed, and the one it deserves, too. Feels new and wide and safe, sort of like Barbie, but without the safe."

Castle Tea Room

"I did not have an opportunity to dine here, but I took the time to read the caption and enjoy the outside. This is a beautiful structure and the history is amazing.Started in 1869 by a Civil War veteran, General John N. Roberts completed in 1894. It's interesting to read how the building passed from one to the next, each aware of their part in the structure. I think that it must have been quite the time to dine and drink with these people in their magnificent home.Updated and modernized significantly between 2004 and 2009, the exterior was cleaned and repaired, new drainage, restoring the original garage and upgrading the electrical system and the physical plant.I'd love to get back to Lawrence when it's open to tour.[Review 11430 overall, 1208 of 2019.]"

North Esplanade Park

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"North Esplanade Park is a beautiful and peaceful park on the bluffs of the muddy Missouri River featuring a grassy overlook and 14 historic residences as part of the North Esplanade Historic District. It is also the very first park in the entire state of Kansas (established in 1854).The park stretches four blocks along North Esplanade Street (between Ottawa St. and Seneca St). On the west side, you'll find a row of large (especially for the time) homes built prior to 1900. This is the street where the upper class of Leavenworth used to live back when it was called Main Street.The homes, yards, and park are remarkably well-maintained making this a favorite photo spot in Leavenworth. In the distance, you'll have a fantastic view Centennial Bridget connecting Leavenworth, KS with Platte County, MO.Whether you come for some memorable photos, a picnic, or to marvel at history, North Esplanade Park is a free and relaxing tourist excursion open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m."

Union Station Kansas City

★★★★☆ 4.3 (337)

"We went to Union Station to see a play by the Kansas City Actors Theatre. It was called "Gaslight" and we enjoyed it very much. Union Station was super cool! They had it all decked out in celebration of the Chiefs win of the AFC championship. I loved the touch of Jason Kelce posters everywhere. They have a wonderful sense of humor.Parking was plentiful both in front of the station and in the parking garage. Be advised to park in front is double or triple the price, but it is more convenient. Most of the things inside the station were closed as we went at about 7 PM. The concession stand in the basement was still open when we got there and people were getting some treats for the play and also I think there were people there watching a movie. It's hard to say anything bad about such an icon of our city. It's a lovely place and I enjoy being here every chance I get."

Henry Wollman Bloch Memorial Fountain

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"It's #FountainDay in KC, which to me, means the official, final stamp that we're as far away from wintertime as possible. Music to my ears.This 'City of Fountains' really does a nice job of spreading out many iconic fountains across the metro, and I've always had a particular affinity for this one outside of Union Station. When it gets going, it's mesmerizing to watch. The view from the Liberty Memorial is one of the best views in all of KC, and right at the base of it you'll find this fountain performing all it's tricks and serve as a welcoming to the whole canvass. Cheers to spring and summer, and to watching all the fountains in KCMO for the longest amount of time until darkness, I mean winter, sets back in."

Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site

★★★★☆ 4 (5)

"This was a place I spent a lot of my childhood at Pioneer Camp and at their big Fall Festival every year, so let's channel my inner 11 year old self to see what the Fall Festival at the Indian Mission is all about:11 y/o Adam: First off, the Indian Mission is awesome! We got rubber band guns, slingshots, got to dress up, drank as much root beer we could hold down, we got to camp out like pioneers... We also made some weird friends that we weren't such if they were just really good actors or if they actually live like it's 1850. Oh and we got to ride horses, make rope, eat funnel cake and the best part is this goes on for three days.32 y/o Adam: Well the weather was really nice when we went. It was a sunny, crispy fall afternoon. There were a lot of booths with and I think I've seen enough dreamcatchers and hand made wooden signs to get me through the year. There were a couple food trucks and the funnel cake smelled good but didn't partake. Music with hay bale seating was nice and relaxing. Nice little stroll through here on a Sunday afternoon but didn't do much.Alright so first of all my 11 year old self is way more fun but overall, past or present, I'm a fan of the Indian Mission Fall Festival which makes up a big part of this historic site. For the remainder of the year, I remember also churning butter at Pioneer Camp and learning about life back in the day. We went here often and it really is a unique, preserved spot in Johnson County. While the rush of chugging sarsaparilla and shooting at friends with a rubber band gun has diminished, I think this is an awesome place to take the kids and something that I'll likely involve mine in as they're old enough to know what everything is about here."

Grinter Place State Historic Site

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"The Grinter House is Wyandotte County's oldest home and has a fascinating history that is being kept alive by the Kansas Historical Society. My personal tour guide Bill was awesome and a wealth of information about the property and all things related to Kansas history. The house was built in 1857 by Moses and Annie Grinter - he ran a ferry boat across the Kaw River at the base of his expansive property and also traded, farmed, and owned a general store. His wife Annie was a member of The Delaware Tribe.The house fell into neglect in the mid 20th century and became a famous fried chicken restaurant in the 1950's- 60's. Through fundraising it was preserved and donated to the state. The house contains 2 floors of period artifacts that show life during the early years of statehood and includes two beautiful original pieces from the Grinter family. For $5 it was a great way to absorb some local history and support the preservation."

Folly Theater

★★★★☆ 4.2 (37)

"Love to see the KC Ballet adding more family programming, and we joined a host of others for a sold out adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. It was enjoyable, the Folly is cool, and the flow of everything here needs a tiny bit of reworking.First, you have to love the old historical landmark type of theaters where the energy and craftsmanship put into them lives on. The auditorium itself is small, but can pack in quite a few people. Upstairs, you better have your legs and balance because it can definitely be a little disorienting with the stacked seating.The parking garage is nice and easy in the sense that it's next to the Folly and pre-pay as you go in. There will likely be a line of cars to get into the garage but with some patience it all works out.From the second we got into the building, it was claustrophobically PACKED. The ticket takers were right by the door, and at the confluence of people waiting in line for drinks and snacks. I think opening up the doors on the east end to help create multiple lines would be helpful.The bathroom lines bottled up, people meeting each other bottled up, and it felt more condensed in here than it may need to. I think adding some selfie stations and other things further down the hallway may help the flow from backing up each time.As busy as it felt also reassuring to see so many people out and about. Glad people still care about human performance and the arts!All in all, a nice theater and we had a good time. The show was enjoyable and a compact 1 hour performance which was great for the kids. I'll keep eyes on other opportunities to come down here when we can."

Anderson House

"Went on a rainy day last spring. We were the only ones there for the tour and the guide was very informative and made us feel like we were getting a special one on one tour rather than them just rushing along because we were a small group. Also a great place for outdoor photoshoots."

Sauer Castle

★★★★★ 4.5 (6)

"Sauer Castle is in the National Register of Historic Places, it's a Kansas City must-see if you've never taken the haunting trip to the top of the bluff where this mansion sits undisturbed for decades. In high school, from Miege to St. Teresa's Academy, crossing state lines, the rumors about Sauer were EPIC and very popular to tell around Halloween. Sauer castle is haunted, according to the ghostly experts and as the story goes...During the Civil War a man leaves his wife to go fight. She waits for him for years, longing for his return and reading his infrequent letters home. Towards wars end, she receives his final letter stating that he is coming home on a certain day on a certain ferry and requesting that she wait for him. When he never arrived, she believed he was dead and frenzied, she hung herself in the infamous bell tower. Her husband, alive, missed his ferry home and later arrived to find his wife dead. It is said that in the front yard he shot himself.Sauer Castle was built by the German immigrant Anton Sauer and has remained in the family for 5 generations - in which the castle has seen many more deaths of natural and unnatural causes. Legend has it that treasure is buried here (however sources say this rumor began from the original fact that the house was built over an antique storage of wine.) Other legends include there is a secret tunnel leading to the Kaw River (others distort this rumor to make it a slave tunnel), or that the ghost of Mary Sauer stands in the windows of the fourth floor looking out onto her property at night. There was a man who died of tuberculosis here, a baby died as well within these walls, and a child was drown.Perhaps what solidified its eerie persona is the foreboding sign in the front that reads: PRIVATE PROPERTY, TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED! BEWARE OF DOGS!Here's where I come into the story: I was young and stupid, it was a boring Friday night and my friends and I thought it would be something to talk about on Monday if we somehow got into Sauer Castle and checked out if it were haunted for ourselves. With my two other good friends, we set out on the property while two other friends waited in the car for our return.What we weren't aware of was that three guard dogs that could have well ripped me apart were stationed around the house. I was only cognizant of one, chained to a large radius of land towards the front of the house, but in truth there were two more. We steered clear of this one dog and kept to the side of the house until we came upon the old slave quarters behind the property. It was here we saw a small window opening to the basement of Sauer Castle...STUPID, STUPID me...I went in (after my two friends.) And what we saw was no different than the last scene of the Blair Witch Project, an empty stone basement with nothing in it but AN ACTUAL STONE WELL in the very center...creepy as all hell.That's when we saw the caretaker with a flashlight and rifle coming towards us. My two dear 'friends' climbed out of there first leaving me with no cell phone light, no knee to climb on. I had to scratch my way up with them pulling on my arms as I had been entirely alone in Sauer Castle. Finally, the three of us hauled ass to the car and sped off before we were caught as trespassers and prosecuted!!!Oh, what a night...something I will NEVER do again and a story I will NEVER forget. Is Sauer Castle haunted? From the fright of feeling trapped in the stone basement with nothing beside me but an old well...I would say yes."

The Power and Light Building

★★★★☆ 4.3 (4)

"Not to be confused with the Power & Light District, this landmark is the glowing, art-deco style building *almost* in the dead center of the KC skyline. For starters, let me show my hometown bias here but the KC skyline is an epic skyline. Sure it's not New York or Seattle, but take a second to Google-image search some other U.S. skylines.. Dallas? Yawn. LA? If I could see it through the smog, I might rank it higher. Denver? The mountains add to it, but otherwise it's like a short section of Lego blocks. The KC skyline frames everything, with great views of the city while packing in Union Station, Kauffman Center, T-Mobile Center, Western Auto sign, the fun-if-not-slightly-cheese Marriott light up billboard (which will always be near and dear to me after seeing it after the Chiefs Super Bowl win), and this cool, old building. This one is most known for it's glowing ember up top, that changes colors. Formerly, it announced sun (yellow), or rain (blue). It rings in Pride Month in June, sports themes, Cancer awareness and other seasonal highlights throughout the year. I've never been into this building, but with iconic placement on the skyline, and nearly century old history, it's a cool building that I always appreciate from afar."

The Wyeth-Tootle Mansion

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"We attended an event on the first floor of this striking, elegant white stone mansion in St. Joseph. The mansion was built in the late 1800's. The downstairs is apparently used these days for special events. There is a gorgeous painted ceiling on the first floor; most or all of the woodwork appears to be original.The upstairs includes a Victorian bedroom, and also showcases a few pieces of fine clothing and a delicate pair of women's shoes that are over 100 years old, I think. There were also some other assorted items on display. Some, but not all, of the items upstairs relate to outlaw Jesse James, who lived elsewhere in St. Joseph.Note: You may wish to bring a jacket or sweater if visiting in the winter."

National Archives

★★★★☆ 4.4 (5)

"Went to see the Holocaust display on propaganda. It was a very good display. It was interactive with text messages. The only bad thing is the cell service was poor and was unable to have the complete interaction. That was the only thing. There was no crowd. Took our time to review. I wish there would has been some reference material to have purchased or collected for teachers. Worth the trip."

Bingham Waggoner Estate

★★★★★ 4.7 (7)

"I came on a Monday mid-morning and pretty much had the whole place to myself. You go through the carriage house for your tickets, watch a 7 minute introductory film and then, with a tour guide in tow, head out to the house. My guide was Melody. When she first started talking to me she asked specifically if I had any time constraints to my visit. I wondered why she needed to know until she explained that some of the guides like to talk a bit more than others - I gathered she might be one of the ones who gives more lengthy tours, based on the amount of time she spent giving me a very good background on the house and grounds. She was thorough and interesting. I have to give her a special shout out because her knee was bound up and she was walking very stiffly but that sure didn't deter her from taking me all over two floors of the house. You could tell she loves guiding people through the house and talking about the interesting history of the two families who lived within those walls. This isn't the biggest mansion you'll ever tour but what I really liked was how Melody invited you to touch the fireplace tiles, feel the texture of the walls, take pictures of anything you liked, and just generally feel at home in the house. This is so different than some historical places where you feel like there is a secret firing squad waiting to shoot you on sight if you even look too hard at the priceless relics of antiquity. It was particularly fascinating to watch Melody handle things within the house. She demonstrated the unusual features of the chandeliers, lifted original rugs to show snaps underneath, picked up phones to pretend dial, demonstrated how a child's rocker could be transformed into a high chair, among other hands-on explanations. Again, I loved the attitude that held a good balance between respect for the past and a desire to show how that past really worked. The last family member to live in the house lived there until he died at age 83. As Melody told the story, he went to the hospital for an illness, never expecting not to return. Because of this unexpectedness of death, he left his house just as it was, filled with tons of artifacts dating back to the late 19th century. One of the more interesting recent finds, amidst a lot of other antique children's toys, was a Zimmer board baseball game. Apparently, only 10 of them exist in the world, most held privately and one at the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame museum. If you go to the Bingham Waggoner website, there's a link to the TV newscast from when the game was discovered in a crawl space at the house. The grounds of the estate are also beautiful, I had a nice stroll around the property and out into the area where wagon wheel swales are visible. Truthfully, I couldn't quite see what they were talking about but did thoroughly love being on that green trail on a fine autumn day. The price for touring the house and grounds is definitely reasonable - five dollars for senior citizens. There is a carriage house boutique as you first walk in, but it looked to have mostly stuff you could buy at any store - jewelry, scarves, and small trinkets. While the house will close for daily tours at the end of October, they will open up in November for special Christmas decorating tours. I plan to come back and see how it looks all gussied up for the holidays."

Liberty Memorial

"There is an awesome memorial that I stopped by and saw and took pictures with and enjoyed myself. I definitely recommend it. It's in the heart of downtown and it's fun to see."

Kansas City Firefighters Memorial and Fountain

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Its a memorial for firefighters. Its relaxing even on a scorching day like today 7-7-19. Its a fountain surrounded by lavender but be careful the local thugs (the bees) will assault you if you poke your nose in too far lol parking is decent, no restrooms that i could see, down the way is a park and a lake you can fish. Lots of sloping hills and green. Do watch out for vagabonds loafing in the park and sitting area. Worth seeing if you appreciate service (wo)men who devote their lives to helping others."

Clay County Museum & Historical Society

★★★★☆ 4.3 (4)

"The museum is located on the historic Liberty square and has 3 floors. The basement has farm implements and the 3rd floor has recreated an early 20th century era doctors office that was once located there. The ground floor has most of the artifacts. This space was originally an apothecary shop and contains tons of old bottles that contained drugs and ointments. It also has a significant collection of arrowheads and objects un-earthed in the Nebo Hill area of Clay county. There are lots of home furnishings and related items from Liberty's history with photos hung and in booklets. in the back room you can sit and go through many volumes of historical notebooks and collections of published items. This should be a required stop for all Clay county residents at least once to appreciate how Clay county has developed, but nothing stands out to make it worthy of a visit if you are not a native. They charge $3 admission."

Alexander Majors Historical House

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"I have driven past this house many an occasion, but I didn't know it hosted special events until I helped celebrate with my friend at his wedding reception there on Saturday. There is a barn *chock-full* of historic paraphanelia, not just from historic conestoga wagons, but from the farm life of the time: harvesting implements and tools. There's a period ax right next to the back door.There is a huge sprawling lawn where we were able to play some bocce ball (I lost :-( ) and a 2nd floor that made the dancing area in the barn that much more cosy. GREAT place to host an event."

The Gatsby on Oak

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"My niece had a wedding here, and it was lovely. The facilities are gorgeous. Highly recommend it!"

The Scout

"Great view, but could be tended to better.You can see the Kansas City skyline, but the pedestal for the statue is riddled with graffiti. The statue is not labeled, but can be found at the end of a paved path that overlooks the city. It's not an overstatement to say that the park isn't tidy, but it's not the dirtiest I've seen.There is a parking lot for the Penn Valley Park Tennis Courts and Skate Park. I probably would avoid the area at night, probably safest in the early morning, when nobody is there."

Harry S Truman National Historic Site

"One of the simpler Presidential home tours? Maybe, but worth every moment to see how this modest, practical man and his family lived both before and after their years in the White House.Given that maliciously stupid, patently xenophobic, utterly evil, thoroughly corrupt, and unspeakably cruel piece of orange sh*t who currently usurps the Oval Office, well, Harry Truman (with all his petty flaws) seems a virtual saint in comparison. (And don't even get me started on the vast gulf that exists between staid, common sensical Bess versus that trashy Slovenian porn model.)Take the tour here. Trust me.It's well organized, full of facts (something one doesn't often see in this age of duplicity), and worth every moment of your time."