Additional Attractions
In adjacent Kansas City, recreation facilities include several public maintained parks – Lake Jacomo and Longview Lake for boating, and fishing, golf courses, the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex for Pro Football and Baseball, Starlight Outdoor Theater, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, two Dinner Theaters, Worlds of Fun Amusement Park, and of course the world famous Country Club Plaza.
The two-hour proximity of the Ozark lakes region is another plus factor for the Belton area.
Kansas City attractions offer an endless variety of things to see and do. Explore the only nationally-recognized museum dedicated to World War I. Let curiosity guide you at Union Station. Or, walk in the steps of America's 33rd President in Independence.
SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City
SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium will transport you into the amazing underwater world. Come nose to nose with sharks and prepare for astonishingly close views of everything from humble starfish and seahorses to graceful rays. To get any closer you'd have to get wet!
- Amazing Underwater Ocean Tunnel
- More than 5,000 Sea Creatures
- Hold a crab or touch a starfish in our Touchpool Experience
- Watch our fun talks and feed shows throughout the day
Pre-booking online is highly recommended!
By purchasing your tickets online in advance of your visit, you not only guarantee your entry to the SEA LIFE Aquarium, but you will also benefit from the following:
- Great savings on the standard walk up admission price
- Priority entry to the attraction
Make the most of your visit
- 5,000+ creatures including Sharks, Seahorses, Octopus, Jellyfish and Rays.
- Watch our fun talks and feed shows throughout the day
- Hold a crab or touch a starfish in our Interactive Rockpool Experience
- Test your creature knowledge; take part in our free kids quiz trail
- Journey through our underwater tunnel as sharks and rays swim overhead
- Children's soft play area
Go Ape Treetop Adventure
7331 Oakwood Drive, Kansas City, MO 64132 (800) 971-8271
Visit Website Get Directions
Go Ape's second treetop adventure course (zip lines, obstacles and more!) in Missouri is just minutes from downtown Kansas City in Swope Park. Swope Park is Kansas City's largest park, and one of the largest urban parks in the United States.
More than just a canopy tour, the Go Ape Swope Park course is made up of numerous rope ladders, 39 exciting crossings to include the Log Swing, Wobbly Ladder, Japanese Bridge, Plank Crossing, Yamazoe Steps, 2 Tarzan swings and 5 zip lines. Overall, there are 5 individual sections within the course, each section taking you higher into the forest canopy and finishing with a zip line more exciting than the previous one!
For FAQs on Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventure, click here
Spend a day at Swope Park to enjoy all the park has to offer. Before or after your Go Ape adventure, check out the park's sports fields (cricket, soccer), disc golf course, golf courses, tennis courts, playgrounds and hike/bike trails. The park also boasts a variety of art sculptures, a Nature Center, pool, community garden, the Kansas City Zoo, and the Starlight Theatre, Kansas City's home for summer entertainment. There's much to keep the outdoor adventurer occupied at Swope Park.
Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark
9400 State Ave. Kansas City , KS 66112 (913) 312-3110
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City is home to Verrückt, the tallest water slide in the world! Families enjoy shared experiences, such as an interconnected river system that takes them through more than a mile of rapids, currents, and tidal waves. Guests challenge towering water slides and a thrilling water coaster, then ride the wave on the Boogie Bahn surf ride. Kids splash and play on 13 mini slides. Relax on beaches, in private cabanas, or in a heated pool with a swim-up refreshment bar.
Union Station
On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world's largest ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg claiming more than 1,500 lives and subsequently altering the world's confidence in modern technology. 100 years later, Union Station Kansas City will pay tribute to the tragedy which continues to resonate through Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition , where more than 300 legendary artifacts onserved from the Ship's debris field is showcased offering visitors a poignant look at this iconic ship and its passengers.
“We are pleased Kansas City was selected as the location to host Titanic for the 100th anniversary of the ship's voyage,” said George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station. “Union Station has been Kansas City's home for exciting exhibitions in recent years and our staff looks forward to providing an unforgettable experience with this incredible offering.”
The Exhibition has been designed with a focus on the legendary RMS Titanic's compelling human stories, as best told through authentic artifacts and extensive room re-creations. Perfume from a maker who was traveling to New York to sell his samples, china etched with the logo of the elite White Star Line and many other authentic objects offer haunting, emotional connections to lives abruptly ended or forever altered.
Visitors are quickly drawn back in time to 1912 upon entrance, as each receives a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger aboard Titanic. They then begin their chronological journey through the life of the Titanic, moving through the ship's construction, to life on board, to the illfated sinking and amazing artifact rescue efforts. They will marvel at the re-created stair case, and press their palms against an iceberg while learning of countless stories of heroism and humanity.
One of the many galleries will be dedicated to local connections, where visitors can learn about how the sinking of the great ship strongly resonated in Kansas City. In the “Memorial Gallery” guests will take their boarding pass to the memorial wall and discover whether their passenger and traveling companions survived or perished.
Over the past 15 years, more than 22 million people have seen this powerful exhibition in major museums worldwide - from Chicago to Los Angeles and Paris to London. RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of the Titanic. The Company was granted Salvor-in-Possession rights to the wreck site of Titanic by a United States federal court in 1994 and has conducted seven research and recovery expeditions to the Titanic rescuing more than 5,500 artifacts
Exhibition Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tickets may be purchased up to one hour before closing times.
Ticket Prices
Union Station Member Ticket Only $10
Anytime Ticket $22
Adult $19.12
Seniors, Military and Children (3-12) $16.12
Group (15 or more with advance reservation) $13.50
Children under the age of 3 go free.
NEW LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City
opened at Crown Center on Sunday April 29, 2012. This is the fourth LEGOLAND Discovery Center in the United States. Described as stepping into the biggest box of LEGO bricks in the world, the $15 million, 30,000-square-foot interactive attraction features a MINILAND® exhibit which recreates landmark buildings in Kansas City out of LEGO® bricks, hands-on play areas, a 4D Cinema, master classes from the LEGO® Master Model Builder, LEGO rides, and special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations. This highly interactive and educational 2-3 hour indoor experience is ideal for families with children.
KC Zoo: African Sky Safari
Ride high above the African Plains on the new African Sky Safari now open at the Kansas CIty Zoo . At $4 a round trip, Zoo guests' toes will dangle just above cheetahs, lions, giraffes and rhinos landing near one of the best chimpanzee exhibits in the world. The journey crosses approximately 1,500 feet at 35 feet above ground and lasts about 7 minutes.
The chair lift transports guests across the African plains at the Kansas City Zoo, honored as one of the best African exhibits by America's Best Zoo book in 2008.
“What an adventure, viewing the Zoo's African animals from 35 feet in the air. The African Sky Safari will provide Zoo visitors with a bird's eye view of the animal exhibits and habitat trails. We hope you enjoy this UNIQUE and THRILLING experience that gets you “up” close and personal with our Kansas City Zoo animals,” commented Randy Wisthoff, Executive Director/CEO.
Unlimited rides on the new African Sky Safari along with the train, tram, boat and carousel are included in PLATINUM FOTZ Memberships. Purchase your Platinum level FOTZ Membership today!
Visit the New "Star" of the Zoo
Watch as Nikita swims in his 140,000 gallon 65 degree pool and explores the 10,000 square feet of customized exhibit space perfectly designed for an awesome Arctic adventure at Polar Bear Passage, now open!
Zoo Information
Hours
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays; 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekends. Closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Pricing
- Admission is only $11.50 for adults, $8.50 for children ages 3-11 and $10.50 for seniors
- Purchase Tickets Now!
Kansas Speedway
Price: $10 to $300
Hours: Open 8am-5pmMon.-Fri., During race dates, check www.kansasspeedway.com for gate opening times.
When Kansas Speedway opened in 2001, it served as home to some of the fastest and fiercest competition in Kansas sports history.
Since then, Kansas Speedway has become one of the most popular and most diverse motorsports venues in the country.
Kansas Speedway hosts NASCAR's premier series, the Sprint Cup Series. It also brings the superstars of the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series to Kansas City, Kan., for an exciting season of heart-pounding motorsports action.
Each race weekend, some 82,000 people sit in the speedway's distinct purple and yellow grandstand to watch their favorite drivers compete. Another 10,000 or more people watch from the comfort of their motorcoaches parked in the track's massive infield.
The newest of all the country's race tracks, Kansas Speedway boasts superior sightlines, convenient traffic ingress and egress and a streamlined flow from parking lots to the open and airy grandstand and its 68 suites.
The concentration of season ticket holders to Kansas Speedway come from a six-state area with a population of 42.1 million. The average fan travels about three to six hours to reach Kansas City, Kan.
Besides the racing, other weekend track events include high-speed driving schools where race fans can learn what it's like to be Richard Petty or Mario Andretti. Car shows, community functions and private parties make up the rest of Kansas Speedway's yearlong activity calendar.
Each season, keep your eyes peeled for the superstars of motorsports to visit Kansas City, Kan., drivers like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer move pretty fast.
Science City at Union Station
Price: $10
Hours: Open 9:30am-4pm Tue.-Fri., 9:30am-5pm Sat Noon-5pm Sun.
Part of historic Union Station, Science City provides real hands-on fun, all in the name of science. Dig for fossils or land a space shuttle in a NASA-style simulator. Science City is fun. Kids (of all ages) won't realize how much they're learning.
Hallmark Kaleidoscope
Price: Free
Hours: Art session times vary.
Kaleidoscope is a magical art studio where children can be creative and feel good about their own special ideas. Creating with bows, cardboard, jazzy junk, making puzzles and painting with melted crayons are just a few of the fun things to do. Independent art sessions for children ages 5-12 and family art Sessions for children of all ages! Kaleidoscope is free as a public service by Hallmark. Call for session times.
Way back in the 1960s, a bright, bright Kansas City man named Don Hall had a bright, bright idea. He got together some of the other idea makers at his company, Hallmark, and they cooked up an imagination machine, where children from all over our planet could explore, create and cook up their own bright, bright, ideas.
Millions of children across the United States have been creating ever since using melted crayons, polka dots of all sizes, zig and zags, shooting stars and lots of other jazzy junk that tickle the minds of young artists everywhere.
Kaleidoscope's imaginative worlds inspire each child's creativity. Children explore exciting environments as they discover the joy of creativity by making their own amazing art from Hallmark scrap materials.
Kaleidoscope gives children (and grown-ups, too) a unique opportunity to express themselves in a supportive, encouraging environment. At Kaleidoscope, every idea is a good idea!
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun
Price: $21.99 - $43.99
Hours: Visit worldsoffun.com for dates & hours
Worlds of Fun is the premier amusement park destination in the Midwest -- offering 175 acres of excitement and fun for every member of the family.
For thrill seekers, an impressive line-up of seven world-class roller coasters and dozens of thrill rides offers dips and loops from big to small.
Hidden in the park's forested terrain, Prowler is a beast of a coaster featuring high speed turns and powerful changes of direction.
Thrill seekers also challenge Patriot, the longest and tallest inverted roller coaster in the region! The track is above you so there is nothing but air below your feet! Reaching speeds more than 60 mph, Patriot turns the American dream into the American scream!
For more great coaster action, the beast of Timber Wolf emerges to provide an awesome ride on a classic wooden thriller and the cold steel of Mamba commands the skyline at 205 feet above the ground as one of the tallest, longest and fastest steel roller coasters in the world. Boomerang loops riders upside-down six times moving forward and backward. The family-friendly Spinning Dragons and the Wacky Worm coaster for kids are perfect for thrill riders in training.
Along with coasters, Worlds of Fun features dozens of other thrill rides. Guests experience the sensation of a coaster loop on ThunderHawk, a gravity-defying freefall on the 200-foot tall Detonator tower and a river rapid adventure on Fury of the Nile.
In 2011, the world's most popular beagle, Snoopy, has a new home at Worlds of Fun. The all-new Planet Snoopy features 18 rides, a bounce house, a foam ball factory, daily character appearances and a brand-new show designed just for kids and parents. Together, families can take a trip around Planet Snoopy on 4x4 monster trucks, soar through the air on rocket ships, take to the skies in a forty-foot hot air balloon ride, or brave the seas in Lucy's Tugboat. Plus, cap off a perfect day in the park with a hug from Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and their friends!
Boulevard Brewing Co.
Price: Brewery Tour Free
Hours: Tour Times 3pm Wed., 1 & 3pm Thu., 1 & 3pm Fri., 10am, 11am, noon, 1pm,2pm, 3pm & 4pm Sat., 1pm & 3pm Sun.
Founded in 1989, Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. Our mission is simple -- to produce fresh, flavorful beers using the finest traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques.
The Boulevard story begins in 1988, when founder John McDonald started construction of the brewery in a turn-of-the-century brick building on Kansas City's historic Southwest Boulevard. A vintage Bavarian brewhouse was installed, and the first batches of beer were produced in the fall of 1989. That November, the first keg of Boulevard Pale Ale was delivered -- in the back of John's pickup truck -- to a restaurant just a few blocks away.
The popularity of our beers has since spread to 19 states. From Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Rapid City, South Dakota, Boulevard beers have become favorites, known for their full flavor, distinctive character and unsurpassed quality.
Brewery Tours:
Boulevard Brewing Co. offers complimentary tours Wednesdays through Sundays, however reservations are required. You can make a reservation by calling 816-474-7095.
Paradise Park Family Fun & Adventure
Price: Call for info
Hours: Open daily 9:30am-10pm (varies with season)
Paradise Park, a premier family Kansas City destination, has something for the whole family to enjoy.
In our 35,000 sq.-ft. building, you will find the Children's Edutainment Center (CEdC), a first for the greater Kansas City area that integrates children's educational experiences into a fantasy of discovery play, exploration and fun!
From soft play to interactive cooking, children can choose from more than 19 different areas. The CEdC caters to children ages 9 and younger.
The fun doesn't stop there! With a multi-level foam factory, you can fire foam balls through our air-powered cannons, geysers, and blasters. A 24-ft. rock climbing wall is uniquely designed to accommodate the varying skills of climbers of all levels with enough hand-holds to allow the novice climbers to show their stuff.
When we say "take a spin," we mean it with our bumper cars. Play the classics or new favorites like "Deal or No Deal" and "Highway 66" mini-bowling in the game room.
Outdoors, you can race the go karts or jr. go karts around our 1,000-ft, road course-inspired track. It's the ultimate driving experience! Our 18-hole miniature golf course is regarded as both beautiful and challenging.
Whether you are looking for some extra batting practice or you just want to take a few swings, we have plenty of softball and baseball batting cages.
You will also find a children's play garden and picnic pavilion with a nearby campfire area and sand volleyball court.
Enjoy our premier hosted birthday parties as well as our first-class indoor and outdoor group facilities that can entertain and accommodate over 1,000 guests.
PowerPlay Entertainment Center
PowerPlay Family Entertainment Center is an 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art fun center with something for everyone. Enjoy the very best attractions at the premiere place for family fun in Kansas City. Our exciting new facility includes go-karts, laser tag, cosmic golf, bumper cars, tilt-a-whirl, swing and rascal rocket rides and a kids zone area, making PowerPlay a great space for adult and children's birthday parties.
Whirlyball is a popular teambuilding activity and the only place you will find it in Kansas City is at PowerPlay. It is a competitive game for even the non-athletic. It is a combination of hockey, lacrosse and basketball while driving a whirlycar, a favorite of our corporate and youth groups.
PowerPlay is a fun and unique venue for corporate retreats, team building, company parties, sales meetings, award banquets and special events with rides and attractions that are geared for every age group.
Corporate board and banquet rooms are impressive in size and capabilities, with seating capacities from 30-400. Rent the entire facility for up to 2,000 people for private parties. PowerPlay also has a fully staffed kitchen with endless catering options.
Our on-site experienced event coordinators customize group packages for a group of any size and plan your event for you. They serve as ambassadors to your group, greeting your attendees as they arrive as well as facilitating your event.
Consider PowerPlay for youth groups, school groups, post-prom and graduation events, as well as lock-ins.
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
he Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts , a new center for music, opera, theater, and dance, opened in downtown Kansas City, Missouri September 16-18, 2011 with a weekend of celebration.
What began as a sketch on a napkin has become an architectural icon and home for the performing arts in Kansas City. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has changed Kansas City's skyline, as well as the experiences of artists and audiences throughout the region.
Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will present a wide spectrum of entertainers and performances from around the world, including classical, pop, and jazz music, ballet and contemporary dance, Broadway productions, comedy shows and more. It is also the performance home to three of the region's leading performing arts organizations—Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. The Kauffman Center will be one of the most technically and architecturally advanced performing arts centers in the nation, allowing its resident companies and presenters to stage more sophisticated work, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and foster the cross-fertilization of the companies' audiences. The 285,000 square-foot facility includes two separate halls: the 1,600 seat Helzberg Hall and the 1,800 seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre— both housed within a dramatic overarching shell featuring a glass roof and glass walls. The Brandmeyer Great Hall provides sweeping views of Kansas City.
America's Creative Crossroads
The national spotlight shines on Kansas City's burgeoning arts communityby Darren Mark
It's rare that arts leaders in creative hubs like New York or L.A. will deign to recognize Midwestern arts communities as anything more than the figurative farm teams to the coasts' major league powerhouses. But recently, a kind of big league general manager—Reynold Levy, the president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City—presented a case that doesn't just urge, but nearly forces skeptics to notice a Midwestern arts community poised for its national close-up.
In an article for the Kansas City Star, Levy wrote, “The sheer variety of visual and performing arts activity emanating from a town the size of Kansas City and the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations necessary to support it are simply outstanding. Few cities can match this track record , at least those situated between America's east and west coasts.”
On Canvas
Creative KC
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This city—one whose Crossroads Arts District is a seductive perfume for publications like USA Today and The New York Times— has metamorphosed from pimply teenager into coveted ingenue. But more than just a city boasting an arts district branded as the “Crossroads,” Kansas City is becoming a creative crossroads. Regionally. Nationally . Undeniably .
“You reach a critical mass where there's such synergy between the business world, the scientific world, the industrial world and the art world,” says Jan Schall, the curator of modern and contemporary art for The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art . “People want to be part of that, and they come here.”
The Nelson is a voice in the national arts conversation, thanks to the recent addition of the Bloch Building. In 2007, Time magazine named it the number-one “best new or upcoming architectural marvel in the world.” That helped validate the national importance of a museum with works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Pollock.
But more important for Kansas City, the Bloch anchors a multifaceted arts movement that helps define a city once known nationally only for barbecue and professional sports.
Says Schall, “The Bloch Building demonstrated that the museum was committed to art of this time and moving forward. But it's not the only one. The Kemper Museum is doing it. The Kansas City Art Institute is doing it. And so is the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art . It's kind of a landmark demonstration of faith in art and the creative world to build this building and to fill it with the treasures that we have of modern and contemporary art.”
If the 1933-built Nelson is the seed of Kansas City's creative crossroads, the Crossroads Arts District is the bud, and art havens like Blue Gallery —representing fine artists like landscape painter Rich Bowman—are the flower.
Blue Gallery is one of dozens of independently owned galleries, retail spaces and design studios centered around 19th Street and Baltimore, the district's core. Together, they practice, manufacture and promote creativity. On the first Friday of every month, all possible shades of it are on display well into the night. This clockwork event—called First Friday—bears testament to this region's remarkable appetite for art through the throngs of people who descend upon the neighborhood.
“There's excitement in the air,” says Blue Gallery co-owner Kelly Kuhn. “What am I going to see tonight that blows my mind, that captures my imagination? There's an electricity of ‘anything is possible.'”
Free Museums
1827 Log Courthouse
Price: Free
Hours: Open 10am-2pm Mon-Fri. After 2pm, by appointment.
Jackson County's first government building, constructed with slave labor, was the only courthouse between St. Louis and the Pacific at the time the Santa Fe Trail trade began.
Two-room log structure was home to roots of Jackson County where controversial slave state, land disputes and westward expansion issues were dealt with. Once a Mormon mercantile store, this structure has a great significance to members of the LDS church. Harry Truman held court here in the 1930s.
Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center
Price: Admission free
Hours: Open 10am-6pm Tue.-Sat.
The Center is named in honor of Bruce R. Watkins, a political and social activist. Watkins was fueled by the need to recognize and preserve the varied contributions African-Americans made to the development of Kansas City.
The facility is located on one of Kansas City's major thoroughfares. It is part of the Cultural Mall complex, which includes the Spirit of Freedom Foundation, the Satchel Paige Stadium, an amphitheater and a hillside garden, which greets visitors with thousands of multi-colored irises.
The center provides visitors with culturally rich entertainment and educational experiences in the form of exhibits and displays, films, classes and workshops, stage performances and special ceremonies.
The center is open to visitors of all ages. It includes permanent exhibit space, children's workspace, resource library, auditorium, small gallery and glassed encased exhibit area for small pieces and artifacts. Admission is free, although there may be a small fee for some events and classes.
Crossroads Arts District
If you're looking for an eclectic gathering place, head to the Crossroads! This area has recently undergone an amazing transformation. Once-vacant buildings now house unique shops, restaurants and a thriving art scene.
First Fridays are a local favorite with galleries and shops remaining open from 7-9 pm the first Friday of each month.
If you prefer a more structured, family friendly outing, check out our Second Saturday program, featuring a guided tour of area retailers & galleries the second Saturday of each month. Participants enjoy educational presentations at each venue, and lunch is included! A small fee of $15 per person ($10 for Crossroads Community Association Friend Members) makes this opportunity possible. E-mail contact@kccrossroads for more information on how to participate & to receive monthly schedules.
First Fridays - Frequently Asked Questions
What is First Fridays?
This FREE event is fast becoming a Kansas City favorite. "First Fridays" occur on the first Friday of every month year round, rain or shine. Art galleries, retailers and other participating art venues located in the Crossroads Art District showcase art from 7-9pm. With ample parking and an abundance of indoor and outdoor entertainment, there's no better way to spend a night than enjoying drinks or dining at an area restaurant, followed by a stroll through the galleries and shops of KC's heart of cultural activity.
When is First Fridays?
The first Friday of every month, year round.
Where do I park?
There is an abundance of on street parking and small lots throughout the area. Be prepared to walk between venues. It can be crowded.
Where can I eat?
In keeping with the eclecticism of the neighborhood, the Crossroads District is home to a variety of restaurants, bars and eateries including; fine dining, Italian, Mexican, Barbecue, Thai, Cajun, Seafood, Steaks, Burgers and more!
Can I bring my children?
Children are welcome! However, galleries and streets tend to become crowded and most galleries cannot accommodate strollers.
Excelsior Springs Hall of Waters & Cultural Museum
Ground-breaking took place in 1936 with a ceremony and the laying of the cornerstone. This structure was partially completed in 1937, when the "Hall of Springs" (today known as the water bar) opened and the mineral waters were dispensed to visitors and health-seekers.
Besides the Hall of Springs, the first floor contained the women's bath department, a sunroom, a covered porch, a grand foyer, offices for the management of the springs and for the chamber of commerce. The swimming pool met the A.A.U. regulations for championship events and was located on a lower floor that opened to outdoor terraces. The balcony around the pool could seat 500 people. Adjoining the pool in the south wing was a special hydrotherapy department, devoted to research into the uses of the waters and treatment of chronic cases of different ailments on prescriptions of licensed physicians. The bottling department was located on the east side of the north wing. Five varieties of mineral water were bottled in the Hall of Waters Processing and Bottling Plant and shipped all over the world.
Frontier Army Museum
Focuses on Fort Leavenworth's role in westward expansion, exhibiting one of the finest collections of horse-drawn military carriages in the nation, including a 1790 prairie schooner and a 1917 JN4D "Jenny" bi-plane. Donations accepted.
Hallmark Visitors Center
Price: Free
Hours: Open Mon.-Fri. 10am-4:30pm, Sat. 9:30am-4:30pm, closed Sun.
See one of the world's most creative companies come to life. Located in Kansas City's Crown Center complex, the Hallmark Visitors Center celebrates the Hallmark story in a display of 14 remarkable exhibits, from our founder's humble beginning in 1910, to the creation of one of the world's largest greeting card company.
Step inside the Timeline exhibit where you'll view historical artifacts that reflect various eras and trends throughout 20th century America into the new millennium.
Marvel at the J.C. Hall Christmas Trees, a collection of 17 unique and imaginative trees. Visit with some of our Hallmark craftspeople a graphic arts technician or press operator as they demonstrate hot foil stamping and die cutting, processes used in the manufacture of greeting cards.
You can even press a button to create a star-shaped bow that you can take home as a souvenir. There's so much more to see at the Hallmark Visitors Center. This stop is sure to add many happy memories of your visit to Kansas City. And the best part is...it's FREE!
Haskell Indian Nations University Cultural Center &
Museum
Price: Call for info
Hours: Open 9:30am-5pm, Mon.-Fri. Closed weekends and holidays.
Preserves the vast history of Haskell's evolution from boarding school to university. Features exhibits from Haskell's unique archival and artifact collections including traditional art forms, contemporary work, artifacts and oral history projects. Rental space: 50 seated. Open 9:30am-5pm, Mon.-Fri. Closed weekends and holidays.
Historic Liberty Jail
Price: Admission free
Hours: Open 9am-9pm, Mon.-Sun.
Historic Liberty Jail features a reconstruction of the original Clay County Jail on the same site of its initial location. We offer free tours, including art, sculpture, photographs and an audio-visual presentation focusing on social and religious history of the area during the 1830s, with special attention to events associated with the Liberty Jail. The site is sponsored and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Johnson County Museum of History
Price: Free.
Hours: Open 10am–4:30pm Mon.–Sat. Please call to confirm hours.
Step back in history and discover your future. See what has lured people to Johnson County for the past 175 years. Includes 14 hands-on stations, KidScape and changing exhibit gallery. Youth programs include tours, classes and interactive play.
The Johnson County Museum of History opened in 1967 in the former Greenwood School. Over the years, the museum has continued to achieve its mission of preserving and sharing the community's history through its award winning permanent and changing exhibits. The facility includes permanent and changing galleries, a research library, an education center, KidScape and a museum store.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Price: Admission free
Hours: Open 10am-4pm Tue.-Thur., 10am-9pm Fri.-Sat., 11am-5 pm Sun.
The sleek exterior of Kansas City's Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Gunnar Birkerts, only hints at the activity within its walls. The open, light-filled atrium provides a striking setting for art activities in the Museum, which is accessible to all, free of charge, year-round. The permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, free public programs, special events, and the ever-popular Café Sebastienne provide endless opportunities for education and entertainment.
Since opening in 1994, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has become a leader among modern and contemporary art museums in America. The Museum has always had a strong commitment to its mission: to present contemporary art of the highest quality and significance through a permanent collection and a balanced exhibition program, and to stimulate dialogue, understanding, and appreciation of contemporary art through free educational public programming. With nearly a dozen special exhibitions each year featuring works by well-known, mid-career, and emerging artists, the Kemper Museum almost always offers visitors a chance to experience something new.
The heart of the Museum is its permanent collection, which has more than tripled to nearly one thousand works in just over ten years time. At the core of the permanent collection is the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Collection, a gift by the Museum's founders R. Crosby and Bebe Kemper and the Kemper Foundations. Encompassing art created from the time of the 1913 New York Armory Show to today, the collection includes works by such renowned artists as Dale Chihuly, Petah Coyne, Morris Louis, Georgia O'Keeffe, Fairfield Porter, Jaume Plensa, Matthew Ritchie, Wayne Thiebaud, and Andy Warhol.
The Museum's celebrated Café Sebastienne serving lunch, dinner, and brunch has won high praise, including its inclusion in Zagat Guide's Top American Restaurants. The unique environment of the Museum along with Executive Chef Jennifer Maloney's artful creations also make the Museum an extraordinary place for special events. The Café serves lunch 11:00 a.m.2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; dinner 5:30 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and brunch 11:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m., Sunday. For reservations, call 816-561-7740.
Museum admission and parking are free. To learn more, visit www.kemperart.org or call 816-753-5784.
Legler Barn Museum
Price: Admission free
Hours: Open 10am-4pm Tue.-Fri., 1-4pm Sat.-Sun. Closed Monday & holidays.
Historic stone barn, railroad depot, caboose and more. Museum about Lenexa's colorful history.
Miami County/Swan River Museum
Permanent exhibits in three 19th century buildings include Native American and St. Philippine Duchesne Shrine artifacts, history of Miami County ghost towns and artifacts of early settlements. Local and seasonal exhibits are changed monthly. Gift shop and area publications. I-35 South to Exit 215.
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
Price: Free admission
Hours: Open 10am-5pm Tue.-Thu. & Sat., 10am-9pm Fri., noon-5pm Sun.
Johnson County Community College is home to the largest contemporary art museum in the four-state region. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art features major exhibitions of internationally, nationally and regionally renowned artists. Free admission and parking.
Pioneer Spring Cabin
Price: Admission free
Hours: Open Apr.-Oct., 10am-2pm Mon.-Fri.
The austere two-room cabin offers a sharp contrast with the area's opulent Victorian estates. The typical 1850s log cabin gives an insight to everyday life in the pre-Civil War era. Originally constructed in the Brady Town Irish community, the cabin was moved to its present location in 1971.
Shoal Creek Living History Museum
Price: Admission free
Hours: Please call for verification.
The 1800s come alive at this living history museum. Events, programs & tours available by appointment. In a municipal park open daily. Grounds available for weddings and picnics. Programs for youth groups and one-room school. Church: 150 ppl.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Price: Free Admission
Hours: Open 10am-4pm Wed., 10am-9pm Thu.-Fri., 10am-5pm Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
You are invited to discover some of the 34,500 pieces in the collection of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. From ceramic objects found in ancient Chinese tombs to whimsical sculptures of badminton birdies, the Nelson-Atkins collection spans over 5,000 years of humanity.
The Nelson-Atkins aspires to create a glorious environment--the ongoing experience which is in itself as compelling as a single "blockbuster" event. Each visit to the Nelson-Atkins brings different connections and unique experiences. Whether you are exploring the collection for the first time or the hundredth time, there's always something new.
The Nelson-Atkins has two restaurants and gift shop. Rozzelle Court Restaurant is fashioned after an open-air Italian courtyard and offers buffet-style service of main dishes, salads, soups, breads and desserts. The Café is a sleek alternative to Rozzelle Court. This casual, glass-enclosed café tempts visitors to indulge in savory bites and mouth-watering desserts. Seasonal terrace seating overlooks the Museum's gorgeous entry plaza.
The Museum Store offers extensive selections of art and design books, home décor, cards, exhibition catalogs, CDs and unusual gift items. Whether you are looking for the perfect gift for the art lover in your life, or buying for yourself, you will be sure to find a beautiful selection at the Nelson-Atkins' Museum Store.
A place for quiet relaxation, creative inspiration, or an exhilarating start to your weekend - the Nelson-Atkins invites you to experience one of the country's pre-eminent cultural destinations.
National Archives at Kansas City
Price: Free
Hours: 8am-5pm Tue.-Sat., closed Sun.-Mon., and Federal holidays
The National Archives at Kansas City is one of 14 facilities nationwide where the public has access to Federal archival records. It is home to more than 50,000 cubic feet of historical records. This includes documents, photographs, maps and architectural drawings from 1820s to 1990s created or received by federal courts and more than 100 federal agencies in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Mormon Visitors Center, The Church of Jesus Christ/L.D.S.
Price: Free admission
Hours: Open daily, 9am–9pm
Tours present the basic beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the teachings of Jesus about the purpose of life and the importance of families, and the history of the Mormon pioneers in Missouri. Paintings, museum and A/V presentations.
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Hotel Features
Free WiFi
Free Hot Breakfast
Indoor Heated Pool
Meeting Room
