Showing 1-13 of 13 results
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Arabia Steamboat Museum
Home to 200 tons of salvaged 'treasure' from a riverboat that sunk in 1856, the Arabia Steamboat Museum in River Market, offers insight to the crafty Missouri River, which claimed some 400 steamboats.
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Glore Psychiatric Museum
Housed in the former 'State Lunatic Asylum No 2,' the Glore Psychiatric Museum gives a frightening and fascinating look at the history and treatment of mental illness. Simple displays tell how lobotomies accidentally began and how 'treatment' has advanced from the 'bath of surprise' to occupational therapy, such as painting. The stomach contents display is alone worth a visit.
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Hallmark Visitors Center
The Hallmark Visitors Center features not-terribly-interesting exhibits on the greeting card giant's history, but hey, Hallmark is one of KC's biggest employers, so cut it some slack.
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Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Harley Davidson Motorcycles hail from Milwaukee, but some are made right here, and you can take a free factory tour at the assembly plant which is 20 minutes north of downtown. No open-toed shoes or children under 12 allowed.
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Jesse James Home Museum
St Jo was once home to outlaw Jesse James and he finally met justice in what is now the Jesse James Home Museum. The fateful bullet hole is still in the wall.
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Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is smaller, but edgier than the nearby Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Both museums are near the Country Club Plaza.
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Leila's Hair Museum
The remarkable Leila's Hair Museum in Independence holds the world's largest (and only public) collection of wreaths and jewelry made from hair, a popular 19th century art form.
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Museums at 18th & Vine
The Museums at 18th & Vine are well worth visiting. You'll learn about different styles, rhythms, instruments and musicians - including KC native Charlie Parker - at the interactive American Jazz Museum (www.americanjazzmuseum.org). Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (www.nlbm.com) to learn about African American teams (eg the KC Monarchs and New York Black Yankees) that flourished until baseball became fully integrated.
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National Frontier Trails Museum
The National Frontier Trails Museum gives a good look at life for the pioneers along the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails; many began their journey in Independence.
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Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Giant badminton shuttlecocks (the building represents the net) absurdly surround the encyclopedic Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art with standout European painting, photography and Asian art collections. Its new luminescent Bloch Building, designed by Steven Holl, has earned rave reviews.
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Pony Express National Museum
The first Pony Express set out, carrying mail from 'St Jo' 2000 miles west to California, in 1860. The service, making the trip in as little as 8 days, lasted just 18 months before telegraph lines reached the coast rendering the riders redundant. The Pony Express National Museum tells the story of the Express and its brave riders, who were mostly orphans due to the dangers.
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Truman Home
See the simple life Harry and Bess lived following their life in the White House at the Truman Home, furnished with original belongings. Tour tickets are sold at the visitor center (tel: 816-254-9929; 223 N Main St).
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Truman Presidential Museum & Library
Just east of Kansas City, Independence was the home of Harry S Truman, US president from 1945 to 1953. The Truman Presidential Museum & Library exhibits thousands of objects, including the famous 'The BUCK STOPS here!' sign, from the man who led the US through one of its most tumultuous eras.
Showing 1-13 of 13 results
