Sensational Souvenirs at Kansas City's Gift Shops
At the Money Museum, every guest receives a FREE bag of currency shreds created from authentic notes no longer fit for circulation. Approximately $165 of unfit currency fills each bag. Continuing the fun of this novelty, they also sell recycled currency pencils and currency pens in the gift shop for $1.49. The pencil is bent into a dollar sign and contains approximately $8 worth of recycled currency. The pen also contains unfit currency (roughly $6).
The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop sells a wide variety of Western inspired gifts in their gift shop for less than $10. For the person who has everything, you’ll find monogrammed steak brands (all letters A-Z available plus a star and heart shape)—perfect for kings or queens of the barbecue grill. As the holidays approach, the stagecoach ornament is a popular addition to Christmas trees. And children and adults are mesmerized by the Jacob’s ladder, a wooden pioneer toy and puzzle.
The Johnson County Museum only sells products made in the USA. Two favorites for children include a wooden train ($14.40) commemorating the county’s history and the museum. Children enjoy purchasing the train, compatible with most children’s wooden railway sets, then playing with it in the museum’s KidScape gallery. The museum also sells 12-piece wooden children’s puzzles ($11.65). Johnson County history buffs love the White Haven Motel collectible key chain commemorating the motel sign currently in the museum’s collection awaiting restoration and display in the museum’s new home (Minimum $10 donation. All proceeds go to the White Haven Sign restoration fund).
At the Jesse James Museum, the gift shop honors tradition by selling souvenir rocks, an idea inspired by Jesse’s mother, Zerelda, who sold rocks from Jesse’s grave to visitors and souvenir seekers. When she ran out, she would retrieve more from the nearby creek. Continuing the tradition, the museum sells the rocks for 25 cents in the gift shop. Souvenir seekers also love traditional items like a pack of playing cards ($10), featuring different photos of people, places and items related to the Jesse James saga, and t-shirts ($21).
Science City in Union Station is known for fun science books and gadgets. They also sell classic souvenirs like the 14-oz. latte lab glass ($14.99). Kids love the 17-oz. color changing “mood” stadium cup that changes colors with ice cold liquids ($2.99) and the s-shaped logo timer ($9.99).
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art sells a wide collection of art books and collectibles. Ladies love jewelry, including the Aqua, a gold Chinese calligraphy necklace pendant made by local KC artist Margi Posten ($35). A favorite with kids (ages 8+) are the Piperoids—kits where kids construct robot figurines simply from beautifully colored paper straws ($18.50). And the shuttlecock mug is a Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art classic ($19.99).