Grand Avenue looking south from Eighth Street, Kansas City, Mo. is the title of the postcard, which pictures a busy street scene about 1912 with pedestrians and three modes of street traffic - street car, horse and buggy and automobile. Many of the women shoppers wear long white dresses and summer hats. Men in their shirt sleeves carry their coats. Automobiles all have their side curtains down but automobile tops are up as protection from the sun. On the reverse side of the card, which was published by Hall Brothers, the legend reads: View of one of the principal thoroughfares of Kansas City showing the Post Office and the Grand Avenue Temple on the left, the Scarritt, Rialto and Long Buildings on the right. Carrie Whitney's history describes Kansas City's progress: With the beginning of the 20th century, Kansas City entered upon an era of remarkable growth. In five years the erection of skyscrapers, buildings, theaters, store buildings and other edifices change the appearance of the downtown district. Three of these early skyscrapers are those pictured: the R. A. Long Building, completed in 1907, costing $1,250,000; the Scarritt Building, 1907, costing $750,000, and the Rialto Building, 1910-11, costing $700,000. Kansas City Times, April 7, 1978.
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