Growing up in Kansas City, with many childhood memories at the Kansas City Museum (3218 Gladstone Blvd. KCMO), from phosphates at the soda shoppe with my grandparents to school field trips through the museum of natural history and my first planetarium show, the museum will always hold a special place in my heart. This summer, visitors 12 and up can enjoy a Hard Hat Tour of the Mansion to learn the history firsthand, and the youngest guests can participate in FREE Drop In Programs on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Long family came to Kansas City in 1891. Robert Long, his wife Ella, and their daughters Loula and Sallie moved into a beautiful home on Independence Avenue, then one of the wealthiest parts of town. Robert quickly established himself as a successful businessman, building a flourishing lumber business and eventually owning over fifty lumberyards. The family became one of the most influential families in Kansas City. Long was responsible for the construction of one of Kansas City's first skyscraper, the fourteen story R.A. Long Building, and with the influence of J.C. Nichols, developed the Longview residential community. In 1907, the family began construction on what is now known as Corinthian Hall. Seeking to build a home that reflected their status in society, and an adjoining stable to accommodate daughter Loula's passion for prize winning horses, the seventy-room stone mansion was constructed with detail and charm.
Long was one of the most influential Kansas Citians of the 20th century with his most notable project being the construction of a monument to WWI at Liberty Memorial. Long was responsible for a fundraising drive collecting $50,000 more than its $2 million goal in just ten days. Today, the legacy of the Long family can be found throughout Kansas City at her landmarks and historic sites.
The museum is currently under renovation, but there are still lessons to be learned from this historic treasure as it is in the process of being restored and renovated to its former glory.
Museum Kids Drop Ins:
Wednesdays & Fridays in July & August | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Free
This summer, drop in with your child for games, music, stories and arts & crafts. Different historical themes in these structured, unscheduled activities will keep children entertained and (don’t tell them!) they just might learn something. There will be storytelling in the mornings and singing in the afternoons. NOTICE: Museum Kids summer programs are drop-ins, not drop-offs. Kids must be accompanied by an adult while here at the Museum.
- July 18 & 20 Gardens
- July 25 & 27 Transportation
- August 1 & 3 Music
Hard Hat Tours:
Two Options:
- On the 3rd Sunday of the month at 12:30pm, take a 90 minute tour of Corinthian Hall, the 100+ year old home of lumber baron Robert A. Long and his family, with Museum Director Christopher Leitch. Visitors will see Corinthian Hall in mid-renovation, the bare interior of the building exposed for the first time in decades. Visitors will examine 100 year-old craftsmanship, see the ornate Salon and Library and view the exquisite stained glass windows. You’ll also see Kansas City Museum’s newest exhibit inside Corinthian Hall, Planning for the Future: Find History at Kansas City Museum. Cost: $5/ea. For guests 12 & up (Must be at least 12 years old to participate in the tour). All tour members must wear closed-toed shoes and children must be accompanied by an adult. Advance registration required click to RSVP
- On Wednesday-Saturday at 2 p.m. Take a FREE 45 minute tour. For guests 12 & up (Must be at least 12 years old to participate in the tour). All tour members must wear closed-toed shoes and children must be accompanied by an adult. Our Museum Education Aide, Janet McGuire, leads daily tours of the Mansion. You do not have RSVP for the tour, though the museum does encourage guests to call ahead.
My husband and I enjoyed a 90-minute tour led by Christopher Leitch, Director of the KC Museum, and his passion for the project is evident in each story he shares. Corinthian Hall, once home to the Long family of Kansas City, is an exquisite mansion in Northeast Kansas City that has been serving as the city's historic museum for decades.
The tour of the property includes the stables and the home, where visitors learn about the family who lived there and the 20+ servants who worked for them. The mansion, once a home, later a museum, reveals layers upon layers of history. Exquisite ceilings, windows, and fixtures are being, or have recently been, beautifully restored. The best view on the tour is a peak outside from the second floor windows at the Kansas City night skyline.
As Leitch shares the history of the home, he also reveals the plans for the future. Many rooms will be newly designed to accommodate a modern history museum telling the story of Kansas City through thousands upon thousands of artifacts in the museum's collection (most of which is currently preserved in the caves). The vision for the future is a museum for all ages that will keep families coming back for more. Exhibits and programs will be interactive and educational creating new memories and teaching lessons to the next generation of Kansas City kids. And we just have a few more years to wait for the unveiling. In the mean time, it's exciting to take a behind the scenes tour for a sneak peek of what is to come!
Favorite Nearby Family-Friendly Dining:
Happy Gillis: 549 Gillis Street KCMO. 816.471.3663. Located in Old Columbus Park, the locally owned cafe offers a quaint homey atmosphere and delicious food. With a new menu daily offering delicious sandwiches, soups, and salads, this is one of our favorite Cafes in Kansas City.
Pandolfi’s Deli: 538 Campbell Street, KCMO. 816. 569.3663. Located in Old Columbus Park. According to museum staff member, Andrew Mouzin, "They are one of the few places in town that serves Muffalettas, its an Italian sandwich that you find primarily in New Orleans, and its really good."
Pho Hoa Noodle Shop: 1447 Independence Ave. Suite 135, KCMO. 816.842.6800. Mouzin says, "They are a great Vietnamese place serving some great Vietnamese noodle soups and sandwiches. Had it yesterday despite the 100 degree temperatures. Enjoy trying something new, while getting some veggies in ."