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Title: City Window: Wide Berth
Description: Ever wonder why Grand Avenue is wider than other streets downtown? One of biggest givers of land to Kansas City, next to Colonel Thomas Swope, was Milton McGee, who, in 1852, gave the city an entire block now bounded by Oak, Locust, and 14th Street and 14th Terrace and specified that it should be used for a park. McGee made his fortune in gold during the California gold rush, returned to Kansas City and bought land from 12th Street to 20th and Main to Holmes in 1856. It was known as 'McGee's Addition,' but was not in the city limits at the time. When the city limits were extended to 20th Street in 1859, McGee insisted that Grand Avenue be wide enough so he could turn his horse and buggy completely around without having to back up.
Date: 1979-10-01
Object Type: Magazine Article