You've Got to See It to Believe It

Discover these local oddities and treasures right in the heart of Kansas City.

Buried Treasure. The Steamboat Arabia was one of some 400 ships to sink tragically while travelling the Mighty Mo during the mid-1800s. The boat, along with more than 200 tons of cargo, lay perfectly preserved under the earth until excavators unearthed the hidden treasure in 1987. For more than 20 years, visitors have enjoyed viewing pre-Civil War era artifacts from the ship.

Shuttlecocks. The most iconic sculptures in the city adorn the Nelson-Atkins Museum lawn, spanning 17 feet in height and weighing in at 5,000 pounds apiece.

World’s Largest Hair Collection. For centuries, hair often was preserved and used both in art and jewelry as a way to remember loved ones. Beautician Leila Cahoon’s fascination with the art form led to her amassing an impressive collection of more than 2,000 pieces at Independence’s most unique attraction, Leila’s Hair Museum.  

Smokey Bear. For more than 64 years, a cheery brown bear clad in ranger attire has encouraged children through print ads and commercials alike that “only you can prevent forest fires!” At Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs, your own little ones can look on as a life-sized animatronic Smokey Bear reminds them to exercise the same care.

Giant Needle & Thread.  Throughout the 1930s, Kansas City was home to many of the nation’s premier clothing manufacturers, earning the garment district the title “Paris of the Plains.” Today, visitors can view a 22-foot-tall needle and thread sculpture that sits nearby the Historic Garment District Museum.  

Jumbo Book Collection. Bibliophiles rejoice as they enter the Kansas City Public Library, a locale where visitors can get lost in a book…to the point that they can’t find their cars! Unlike any other downtown structure, the library parking lot is hidden behind gigantic covers of popular reads such as Charlotte’s Web and Lord of the Rings. Book-shaped stairs lead patrons out of the pedestrian exit.

Bronze Spider. An 11-foot-tall arachnid sculpture keeps watch over the Kemper Museum of Art’s lawn. Look out for her burnished babies, scattered among the grass! 

Lauren Greenlee writes and raises three sons in Olathe.