February is the month to send love letters and valentines. This year, celebrate the tradition with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Kansas City’s valentine history.
Hallmark: Valentines from Kansas City
The Hallmark Visitor’s Center (2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.274.3613, www.HallmarkVisitorsCenter.com) tells the history of Hallmark, but the highlight of the tour is watching the production processes of Hallmark cards on factory machines. And don’t leave without pressing the button where you can watch a gift bow be made right before your eyes as a free souvenir to take home.
Make a Valentine
After visiting the Hallmark Visitor’s Center, stop in next door at Kaleidoscope (www.HallmarkKaleidoscope.com), the FREE art center for children. It's an imaginative world where children can create their own masterpieces with a variety of supplies. February’s materials offer plenty of beautiful valentine inspiration.
Love Letters from the President
The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum (500 W. US Hwy. 24, Independence, MO, 816.268.8200, www.TrumanLibrary.org) celebrates the lifelong love story of Harry and Bess with the online exhibit, “Love Letters from the President” at www.TrumanLibrary.org/BessLtr.htm.
Valentine Postmarks
Many cities in the United States bear loving names. Their post offices mark the occasion with special postmarks on all valentines mailed out of their offices! But, did you know that you can get these postmarks without leaving town?
Just follow these easy steps:
- Place your stamped, addressed greeting cards in a large envelope or box. Label it "Valentine Greeting Card Re-Mailing."
- Address to "Postmaster" of the town where you would like your cards postmarked.
- Have the envelope or box weighed at your local post office to apply sufficient first class postage. Once postmarked, the individual envelopes are entered into the mail stream for delivery.
If you mail it out to Loveland, CO, the card will receive extra special treatment. Your envelope will be postmarked LOVEland, CO, and it will also be hand-stamped with a unique four line poem. The Loveland Chamber of Commerce heads up this yearly romance project sending along cards to all 50 states and more than 100 foreign nations annually, with over 160,000 valentines sent last year!
The following cities participate in special valentine postmarks:
- Loveland, CO 80537
- Valentine, TX 79854
- Valentine, NE 69201
- Kissimmee, FL 32741
- Loving, NM 88256
- Romance, AR 72136