The Kansas City metropolitan area is home to several major cities with populations exceeding 150,000 and numerous suburbs. Each community boasts its own signature style, landmarks and claim to fame. This is what our local hometowns are famous for:
Kansas City, MO:
- Famous People: Walt Disney got his start working for the Kansas City Star and he started Laugh-O-Gram Studios in Kansas City, where he and Kansas Citian Ub Iwerks created many beloved cartoon characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Kate Spade, the renowned fashion designer, is a Kansas City girl and St. Teresa’s Academy alum. Don Cheadle of Oceans 11 grew up in Kansas City.
- Famous Food: Kansas City is best known for its specific style of sweet, tangy barbecue.
- Famous Fact: Kansas City boasts more fountains than any other city but Rome and, with its beautiful boulevards and architecture, is known as the “Paris of the Plains.”
- World Record: On Sept. 29, 2014, Kansas City Chiefs fans set a Guinness world record for loudest crowd at an outdoor stadium by creating 142.2 decibels worth of noise.
- Architectural Icon: The Country Club Plaza, opened in 1922 by J.C. Nichols, is the nation's first shopping center. The Plaza Art Fair and Christmas lights are two seasonal traditions enjoyed by generations of Kansas Citians.
Lee’s Summit, MO
- Famous People: The Younger brothers, of James-Younger Gang notoriety, are from Lee’s Summit. The American outlaws and Confederate bushwhackers included Cole, Jim, John and Bob Younger,who ran with Frank and Jesse James.
- Famous Food: Custard’s Last Stand is western Missouri’s answer to St. Louis’ beloved frozen custard. Founded in Lee’s Summit in 1989, the local frozen custard shop is a Lee’s Summit favorite with a loyal following.
- Famous Fact: Since 2006, Lee’s Summit has ranked on CNN/Money and Money Magazine’s 100 Best Cities to Live in the United States, ranking 27th in 2010. World Record Mark Curp, of Lee’s Summit, held the world record for the half-marathon from 1985 to 1990.
- Architectural Icon: The centerpiece of Downtown Lee’s Summit’s eclectic and historic shopping district is the Lee’s Summit Historical Society Museum (http://downtownls.org/museum-historic-train-depot/), located in a 1905 train depot. Lee’s
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Independence, MO:
- Famous People: The 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, called Independence home. His house and presidential library in Independence are museums open to the public.
- Famous Food: Dixon’s Chili (9105 E. US Hwy. 40, 816.861.7308) is celebrating more than 90 years in the business of serving chili you eat with a fork.
- Famous Fact: Independence is known as the "Queen City of the Trails" because it was a point of departure for the California, Oregon and Santa Fe trails. Today visitors learn more of that history at the National Frontier Trails Museum.
- World Record: Independence is home to Leila’s Hair Museum, the only museum of its kind in the world. The museum displays more than 350 hair "wreaths" and 1,500 pieces of artwork made partially or completely out of human hair.
- Architectural Icon: The Community of Christ Temple is the denomination’s headquarters. The building, designed by Gyo Obata with a steel spire rising 300 feet in the air, looks like the spiral shell of the nautilus.
St. Joseph, MO:
- Famous People: Walter Cronkite, the famous television reporter, was born in St. Joseph and got his start in reporting in Kansas City, where he worked for the Kansas City Star, KMBC and other local news organizations before achieving national fame on CBS.
- Famous Food: Cherry Mash is a chocolate covered candy bar with a soft, cherry-flavored center, invented in 1918 and manufactured by the Chase Candy Company in St. Joseph.
- Famous Fact: St. Joseph was one of two endpoints of the Pony Express, providing fast mail delivery over land that was then inaccessible by rail, and visitors can enjoy the Pony Express Museum. Jesse James’ home in St. Joseph also houses a museum still sporting the bullet from the fateful shot that killed the infamous guerrilla. St. Joseph’s slogan is "Where the Pony Express started and Jesse James ended."
- World Record: This record cannot be verified, but no one wants to compete. East Hills Mall in St. Joseph earned notoriety in 2014 when their television commercial went viral as the worst commercial in history.
- Architectural Icon: Cathedral Hill District (between North 9th and 13th along Powell Street) is home to Greek Revival and late Victorian mansions as well as the old Cathedral of St. Joseph, known for its spires and stained glass.
Kansas City, KS:
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Famous People: Jazz musician Charlie Parker grew up in KCK, and a statue in his honor is located outside the American Jazz Museum. Ed Asner of the Mary Tyler Moore Show also grew up in KCK. - Famous Food: Downtown, near Minnesota and Central avenues, is a mecca of Mexican grocery stores and taquerias known for the best street tacos in the metro.
- Famous Fact: Kansas City, KS, is the “newer” of the two neighboring cities sharing the same name. It was incorporated in 1872, almost 20 years after Kansas City, MO.
- Architectural Icon: The Rosedale World War I Memorial Arch on Memorial Drive in Mount Marty Park was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe. If you visit the arch, you will discover an amazing view of the downtown Kansas City, MO, skyline.
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Overland Park, KS:
- Famous People: Paul Rudd, the actor, comedian and movie star, has Overland Park roots and enjoys cheering for the Kansas City Royals along with another famous Overland Park native, Jason Sudeikis of SNL.
- Famous Food: Historic Downtown Overland Park (DowntownOP.org) is a popular shopping district with a variety of locally owned restaurants.
- Famous Fact: Overland Park is proud of the fact that the city is consistently ranked in the top 10 of CNNMoney.com’s 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.
- World Record: According to the Guinness World Records, the most people sending a text message simultaneously is 2,193 and was achieved by the National Speech & Debate Association (USA) in Overland Park on June 19, 2014.
- Architectural Icon: The Museum at Prairiefire is the only building in the United States to use dichroic glass developed by NASA. The beautiful exterior is a new but much loved landmark—the glass changes color throughout the day.
Lenexa, KS:
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Famous People: James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok lived on 160 acres at what is now the corner of 83rd & Clare Road.
- Famous Food: Lenexa was named the “Spinach Capital of the World” in the 1930s, and they celebrate their history with a festival each year (Sept. 12 this year) with fun activities.
- Famous Fact: According to legend, Lenexa is derived from the name of Shawnee Chief Thomas Blackhoof's wife, who was variously recorded on census records as Na-Nex-Se and Len-Ag-See. A statue in her honor is located on the Lenexa City Hall grounds.
- World Record: The world's largest spinach salad (150 pounds of fresh, washed spinach) is served annually at the Spinach Festival.
- Architectural Icon: The dam at Black Hoof Park (9053 Monticello Rd.) is a masterpiece of engineering and art. The artistic design represents the water cycle and features fountains, sculptures and cascading pools.
More Notable People:
- From Belton, MO: Tate Stevens, winner of the second season of U.S. The X Factor in 2012, is a famous American country music artist who calls Belton home. Dale Carnegie, American writer, lecturer and author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, called Belton home and is buried in the Belton Cemetery.
- From Blue Springs, MO: David Cook, winner of the seventh season of American Idol, is an American rock singer-songwriter.
- From Shawnee, KS: Dr. Phil McGraw, the famous television psychologist is an alum of Shawnee Mission North High School.
- From Leavenworth, KS: Melissa Etheridge, the rock and roll singer, grew up in Leavenworth.