History · Kansas City · United States
6 historic sites to see in Kansas City
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Charvex, Public domain
Quick answer
Start with National WWI Museum and Memorial, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 9–12 hours across 4 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 9–12 hours
- Areas
- Crown Center, 18th & Vine Jazz District and River Market
Historic sites in Kansas City
Museum · Crown Center
1.National WWI Museum and Memorial
The galleries cover the war from 1914 with trenches, weapons and letters, and the Liberty Memorial Tower above has an observation deck looking straight down to Union Station and the skyline.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · 18th & Vine Jazz District
2.Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
It ends at the Field of Legends, a mock diamond with bronze statues of Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck O'Neil and other stars at their positions.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · 18th & Vine Jazz District
3.American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room
The museum has listening stations and Parker's saxophone, and its attached Blue Room is a working jazz club with live sets most weeks.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours, plus a show
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Art
- Rainy day
Architecture · Crown Center
4.Union Station and Science City
The building also houses Science City, a hands-on science centre for children, plus a planetarium, a model railroad exhibit and touring exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1 hour; 3 hours with Science City
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Museum · River Market
5.Arabia Steamboat Museum
The river moved, and in 1988 a family dug the wreck out of a Kansas cornfield; the museum displays what they found — boots, dishes, tools and preserved pickles — and the restoration lab where conservation continues.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Park · Country Club Plaza
6.Loose Park and Rose Garden
Today it is best known for its formal rose garden with thousands of bushes, a lake and wide lawns.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Center | National WWI Museum and Memorial and Union Station and Science City | 3–4 hours + 1 hour; 3 hours with Science City |
| 18th & Vine Jazz District | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room | 1.5–2 hours + 1–2 hours, plus a show |
| River Market | Arabia Steamboat Museum | 1.5 hours |
| Country Club Plaza | Loose Park and Rose Garden | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 1 free, 3 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is National WWI Museum and Memorial; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Crown Center): National WWI Museum and Memorial → Union Station and Science City, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (18th & Vine Jazz District): Negro Leagues Baseball Museum → American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (River Market and Country Club Plaza): Arabia Steamboat Museum → Loose Park and Rose Garden, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 6 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Still cold, with the quietest hotels of the year; indoor sights such as Union Station and the WWI Museum suit the weather.
- January: highs of 3°C (37°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. The coldest month, with occasional snow and icy winds; good for museums and hotel deals, unless the Chiefs are in the playoffs.
- March: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Temperatures swing widely, from spring warmth to late snow.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Crossroads Arts District — Converted warehouses full of galleries, coffee roasters and restaurants south of downtown
- River Market — Weekend farmers' market, international grocers and lofts by the Missouri River
- Crown Center and Union Station — Hallmark's office-and-shopping complex beside the grand 1914 railway station
- Country Club Plaza — Spanish-style towers, fountains and outdoor shopping streets built in the 1920s
More of Kansas City
All things to do in Kansas City · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Kansas City?
National WWI Museum and Memorial. Designated by Congress as America's official First World War museum, it opens with a glass bridge over a field of 9,000 poppies, each representing 1,000 combatant deaths.
+Which of these are free in Kansas City?
Loose Park and Rose Garden.