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KC Celebrities

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The greater Kansas City area has been home to many well-known celebrities. From the creator of the world’s most famous mouse to “the people’s President,” some famous folks have called Kansas City home. There are lots of fun sites and exhibits to explore nearby while learning more about Kansas City’s illustrious past.

Let’s start with perhaps our most famous former citizen, Walt Disney, who lived in Kansas City from 1911 until he left for Hollywood in 1923.  As a fledgling cartoonist, Disney and his partners established Laugh-O-Gram Studio in 1922, located at 1127 E. 31st St. in Kansas City, Missouri. As the legend goes, it was in this building that Disney first encountered his inspiration for the beloved children’s character, Mickey Mouse. While working at the studio, Disney adopted a pet mouse who was later immortalized by the cartoonist in his first successful animated short film, Steamboat Willie. Disney at first wanted to name his new character Mortimer Mouse, but thankfully his wife, Lillian, suggested Mickey was more endearing. Interesting fact: Did you know that Disney voiced the character of Mickey Mouse from his inception in 1928 until 1947? Today, the nonprofit organization Thank You Walt Disney is raising funds to restore the historic building that once housed the Laugh-O-Gram Studio. Plans include turning the building into a museum with a movie theater and an education center. The Disney family pledged $460,000 in matching funds to help with the restoration and transformation. If you are interested in donating to make this dream a reality, visit ThankYouWaltDisney.org.

For Disney fans near and far, Kansas City will be one of the host cities of the traveling exhibit “Disney100: The Exhibition,” starting May 24 at Union Station. “Our leadership team has worked tirelessly over the last three years to ensure we were able to bring Walt and his story back to Kansas City, where his animation career began,” George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station, said. “When we heard the Walt Disney Company was creating an exhibition celebrating its 100th anniversary, we knew we had to bring it here-to Kansas City-where the roots of Walt Disney run deep.” Within “Disney100: The Exhibition,” guests will encounter some of their favorite Disney stories as they journey through 10 imaginatively themed galleries showcasing “crown jewels” from some beloved films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), the live-action Cinderella (2015), Encanto (2021) and many more. The exhibition features more than 14 interactive installations and hundreds of items including ones from some of the most recent additions of the Disney family-Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel. “Guests will step into €˜Disney100: The Exhibition’ and experience 100 years of Disney history like never before,” said Becky Cline, director, Walt Disney Archives. “We are excited to bring the tour to Kansas City-a place that was instrumental in Walt’s life. It was here where he forged his storytelling skills and his creative passion.” Tickets to “Disney100: The Exhibition” can be purchased at UnionStation.org.

Another famous Kansas Citian was none other than the United States of America’s 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. A longtime resident of Independence, Missouri, President Truman had a home at 219 N. Delaware St. that he and his wife, Bess, called “the center of the world.” During retreats from Washington, the two would return to Independence for a short time to live a more simple life and, after his presidency, returned again to resume private life. After his death, Bess gave the home to the National Park Service to preserve and protect it and to educate future Americans. Visitors today can explore his home and the family farm grounds, as well as several other Truman family homes in the neighborhood, including the Noland Home across the street and Truman’s boyhood home nearby.

While in Independence, a trip to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is a must. In the summer of 2021, the Truman Library reopened after a major renovation and upgrade. The focus of the updated museum is on a cinematic immersion into U.S. and world history. Tru History is a sound-and-light theater production that relates some of the most dramatic chapters of WWII and Cold War history in a new and exciting medium. Museum exhibitions also include more than 230 artifacts and hundreds of documents, letters and facsimiles. Other features include a 14-foot interactive globe, a role-playing Cold War game and exhibits on Truman’s family life and legacy. Before his death, Truman is quoted as saying, “I hope to be remembered as the people’s President.” Be sure to check the Truman house and Library websites before planning your visit for the most up-to-date hours and admission information. Pro-tip: Be sure to purchase tickets for the Truman Home at the Visitors Center-the park ranger will then walk over with your group for the tour.

About an hour outside Kansas City is Atchison, Kansas, birthplace of the legendary Amelia Earhart. Although this famous pilot lived and traveled all over the United States, she always considered Atchison her home. An easy drive from the metro brings fans to Earhart’s childhood home at 223 North Ter. in Atchison, or visitors can discover more about her life and aviation legacy at the new Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, located at the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport. Completed in April of last year, the Hangar Museum’s main attraction is the last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E, which is identical to the aircraft Earhart was piloting when she so tragically and mysteriously disappeared on July 7, 1937. Earhart was attempting to be the first woman to circumnavigate the globe but disappeared on one of the final legs of her flight, along with her navigator Fred Noonan. It is presumed that they crashed somewhere in the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum also boasts 14 interactive, immersive STEM exhibits that take visitors on a fascinating journey through her life and accomplishments.

Other Kansas City celebrities include Thomas Hart Benton, the prolific regionalist painter and muralist. You can see many of his works at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, as well as works by George Caleb Bingham, another regional painter known as “the Missouri artist.” His family’s home, the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, is another museum in Independence, Missouri, to put on the must-visit list.  Buck O’Neil, another beloved Kansas City resident, played and managed for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. You can learn more about his life and legacy, as well as that of Satchel Paige, a baseball great who played in KC, at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum at 18th & Vine in the Jazz District. O’Neil was a pivotal player in the establishment of this museum, which chronicles the rich history of the Monarchs and the Negro Leagues.

Margaret Bristow is a KC native with a love for local history.

Editor’s Letter July 2024

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I love July! It is warm and relaxed, inviting us to enjoy longer days and beckoning us outdoors. It’s also a special birthday month here! The best birthday present I ever got was bringing home one of my daughters on my birthday-a sweet moment then, and continuing to have a birthday buddy is a sweet treat too!

Summer certainly has free and fun moments of adventure, whether it’s time for the pool, a getaway to the lake or exploring a new local venue. Elizabeth Hammond has some ideas for you as she crafts a “Perfect Summer Day.”  This is also a special summer as we pause to take in the 2024 Olympics. Lauren Greenlee has put together some fantastic ideas to celebrate with kids.

Truth be told, summer can be challenging with all the extra time. Make the most of it with Stephanie Loux’s ideas on pg.?? to “Stay Connected with Teens and Tweens.” Loads more unstructured time means many parents and kids battle about screen time. Lauren again has some great insight regarding technology. Perhaps your summer quandary involves contemplating daycare for the fall, in which case Kim Antisdel has been mindful of your struggle; see her ideas.

We’re excited to get your feedback regarding your Family Favorites, so carve out a few minutes to vote online at KCParent.com. In fact, stay tuned to KCParent.com all summer long for fabulous contests and giveaways.

Happy summer, Kansas City!

Alpaca brunch

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My daughter and I have long had an affinity for llamas. I am her mama llama, and she is my baby llama (true even as she ages). This affinity began long before llamas became ubiquitous chums, showing up on everything from bed sheets to greeting cards-both of which we have enjoyed, I dare add.

We have embraced alpacas as well, as they are basically a cousin to the llama. In case you’re curious, llamas are nearly double the size of alpacas in weight and roughly 10 inches taller. Alpacas have smaller faces with short ears, while llamas have elongated faces with banana-sized ears. In personality, alpacas prove to be gentle and shy, while llamas are brave and confident. That’s a brief overview. Given the opportunity to interact with an alpaca or a llama, we’d choose either and both.

When my baby llama stumbled upon the opportunity to breakfast with alpacas locally, it clearly had to happen. The folks at Colonial Gardens in Blue Springs were exceptional to work with from start to finish.

Our day included a locally sourced and truly delicious brunch. From there, we were taken to the alpaca enclosure to interact directly with the animals. The Colonial Gardens staff were explicit about behavior expectations from the alpacas as well as from us humans, their thorough knowledge enlightening and delighting us. They were also exceedingly helpful in taking photos.

We could not have asked for a better time! From the food to the farm experience to the opportunity to snuggle with alpacas, it was winsome in every way!

Lauri Clapper has a couple longstanding nicknames, among them Mama Llama. She enjoys embracing nature yet prefers to snuggle her own baby llamas.

Summer Vacation

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“Good night, Mom. G’night, Grandma.” I opened the door and climbed the attic stairs. 

While many Americans drove the length and breadth of our country to historic sites and natural wonders, our vacations were limited to our means, and we spent a week with Mom’s mother and stepfather in the Missouri Ozarks. My grandparents lived between Warsaw and Lincoln, on a major, but two-lane, highway. Traffic lacked the constant rush hour roar of the city, and we could have up to 30 minutes of peace before another car or big truck passed. 

Grandma and Grandpa owned a small parcel of rural land that held their two bedroom home and a separate building that housed a package store where they also sold food, clothing, live bait and other fishing items. The lack of space in their house made bedtimes a little cozy. Mom and Dad took one bedroom, while my two younger sisters shared a couch in the living room. 

My two brothers and I slept on cots in the attic, and despite the two open windows at each end, when we hit the sack, the temperature was stifling. After an uncomfortable beginning, the early morning cold that always shocked me by its contrast from the heat of the night before settled us to sleep. 

The trucks fascinated me with their sound through the open windows, a peculiar mix between a whine and a whistle. I was told the sound was due to the tires they had to use to handle the weight of their loads. Technology must have changed in the decades since, because, while the whine of these tires remains, the peculiar whistle that once accompanied them has vanished. Until sleep claimed me, I tossed and turned in the heat while the occasional truck passed, whistling in the Missouri night. 

Cooling Kids Down

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Everyone has to deal with feelings of anger and frustration. While these feelings are normal, it is important to teach kids how to deal with them appropriately. Parents and kids can work as a team to come up with strategies for these situations. “Unfortunately, many kids have never been given the opportunity to think of those other ways to calm down. They keep getting into trouble because the only behaviors they know are inappropriate ways to express their anger,” says Parents.com. Working together to prepare a plan before it’s needed will help children learn how to calm down and discuss why the feelings occurred. The Parents.com article continues, “Once the child chooses his €˜calm down’ technique, encourage him to use the same strategy each time he starts to get angry.” Here are some examples of this technique for each age group.

The Toddler Years (ages 0-2)


Prepare: Observe what calms your child. Is it snuggling up with a parent? What toys does he play with quietly?  Make note of what is calming for your child and use these activities later when he’s upset.

Act: Children of this age do not understand their feelings. When your child becomes frustrated and angry, use one calming technique you observed. Sing a song, snuggle up with a book, get out a new toy or start a new activity. Remain calm yourself and use a soothing voice while speaking to your child.

Discuss: Think about what caused the child’s anger and discuss with other caregivers what may be common frustrations for your child. If a toy is causing the child to become angry, simply remove it. If the child is overtired or hungry, adjust meals and bedtime. During the toddler years, tantrums are normal and may happen frequently. Try to remember that this is one of the ways that toddlers are able to communicate their feelings. Be patient and know that this stage will pass as the child matures and his vocabulary develops.

The Preschool Years (ages 3-5)


Prepare: On a calm day, talk with your preschooler about different types of feelings, giving names to them. Some find a chart or photos helpful when explaining. Discuss appropriate behavior for when she is angry and talk about actions to help her calm down. Calming suggestions for preschoolers may include drawing a picture, playing with cars, doing a simple puzzle, singing and dancing to music, running, jumping or sharing hugs. Sherrie Hoffman, Hiawatha, Kansas, says, “With my 5-year-old, slow deep breaths help. Then, when he can talk, we discuss what has upset him.”

Act: When feelings of anger begin, in a calm voice ask your child to try one of the techniques you two discussed earlier. Remind her you will talk about it when she is calm. Do not feed into her actions unless she is working on becoming calm.

Discuss: Later, ask the child to share why she became angry and come up with ideas of how to prevent the situation in the future. Remind her it’s normal to feel angry at times and let her know you are proud of the way she used the techniques to calm down.

The School Years (ages 6-11)


Prepare: Discuss common triggers for your child and come up with a plan for how to handle them.Talk about the difference between appropriate and inappropriate anger. As during the preschool age, together come up with a technique that helps calm the child and plan to use it when needed. Ideas for kids in this age group include going to their bedroom and listening to their favorite music, kicking a soccer ball, swinging on the swing set or screaming into a pillow.

Act: When your child becomes angry, calmly let him know that you see he is upset and would like to talk about it when he is calm. “We don’t talk about a problem until they are calm, and if they get worked up while explaining what is wrong, then we take deep breaths until they are calm again,” says Rachael Kennedy, Overland Park mother of five.

Discuss: When the child has calmed down, listen to his frustrations. Let him know it is OK to feel angry and praise him for handling it well. Ask him what could have been different and come up with solutions as a team.

The Teen Years (ages 12 years and up)


Prepare: At this age, kids may be aware of what sets them off-and so may parents. Try to problem solve how to avoid situations that make them angry. Come up with ways your teens can calm down on their own. Ideas for this age include taking a walk, tidying up their room, listening to music, journaling, taking a shower or bath or calling a friend to vent.

Act: Calmly mention that you see she is angry and ask her to please take a break from the situation until she can calm down. Give her space-unless she wants to talk-and be patient. If appropriate, leave her alone in the house to calm down.

Discuss: Later, after everyone is ready, discuss what happened. Problem solve what a solution could be now or in the future. Come to a compromise about what could be different and ask her for as much input as possible.

            The goal of these techniques is to teach kids that all feelings are normal, even anger. Teaching these techniques gives kids the tools they need to deal with anger in an appropriate way and teaches them how to use problem solving to work through a frustrating situation.

            It’s no secret that our behavior as parents affects our kids. How a parent deals with feelings of anger can have a huge impact on how our children will react when they feel angry. Here are some tips to model appropriate behavior when those feelings occur:

Tips to Help Parents Cool Down


  1. Walk away.

  2. Take some deep breaths.

  3. Keep a calm voice.

  4. Use calm body language (no slamming doors or stomping around).

  5. Diffuse anger by doing a calming activity (tidy up, take a walk, splash water on your face).

  6. Fake it until you make it.

  7. Make a commitment in advance to keep your cool.

  8. Think about how your actions affect your kids.

  9. Acknowledge that it is normal for children to push your buttons.

  10. Try to see the humor in the situation.


Sarah Lyons is a wife and mother of six children living in Olathe.

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