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Missouri Valley Special Collections
Railroad tycoon envisioned a grand...
Today, Guinotte Avenue is a rather unassuming stretch of road running through Kansas City’s predominantly industrial East Bottoms. One hundred seventy years ago, however, the thoroughfare was the...
Pleasure Boating on the Blue River? KCQ...
At the turn of the 20th century, Kansas Citians seeking respite from urban life had only to travel a short distance east to enjoy camping, floating, and fishing at a popular recreational destination...
Kansas City vs. North Kansas City:...
In 1946, Kansas City found itself at a crossroads. The rise of the suburbs and decentralization posed a threat to downtown, creating a postwar existential crisis for the city. Swift action was...
Meet the humble Kansas City woman who...
It was a hot June night in 1943, and Frances Angermayer could not sleep. So, she arose after midnight, went to her typewriter, and—in twenty minutes—wrote what was to become the most famous poem of...
This Week in Kansas City History
Kansas City FAQs
Who was Jesse James and what was his connection to the Kansas City area?
Jesse James was born near Kearney, Missouri in 1847, the son of Zerelda Cole James and the Reverend Robert James, a well-respected Baptist minister who ran a prosperous farm, owned slaves, and was involved in the creation of William Jewell College in Liberty. During the Civil War, Jesse’s older brother, Frank, fought with Confederate forces under General Sterling Price, and when he returned from this service, both he and Jesse took part in the guerrilla warfare then raging in Missouri and Kansas.