Going to Kansas City

M- Today we are going back in time. Didn't know we would do this on our tour did you? Surprise! Well, today we begin with the Monarchs (KC). They were the longest running Negro League Franchise. They played from 1920-30 and 1937-62 were league years. They won the first Negro League World Series in 1924. These are a couple of photos showing the teams of 1956 and 1948. These pics above and below I took at Fanfest. (more on that later)

In 1945, Jackie Robinson hit .387

as th Monarchs' shortstop . He was

the first Monarch to go into white

baseball. The team disbanded in

1965 due to many players being sent

to the major leagues.

Notable other Monarchs- Buck O'Neil

and Satchel Paige.

For more information--Google

Negro League Baseball.

N-

Next stop is the Negro League

Baseball Museum. Located in the

18th and Vine District here in KC.

The museum opened in 1997 but

was "founded in 1990 and is a

privately funded non-profit

organzation dedicated to preserving

the rich history of African-American

Baseball."

You can take a self-guided tour where

you will see displays , photos, a museum

store and artifacts from 1800's-1960's.

For more information: www.nlbm.com

This is Alexander Austin a self

taught artist who was at Fanfest

drawing Buck O'Neil he was

intrumental in getting the Negro

League Museum here.

Satchel Paige artifacts at Fanfest.

Our last stop for now is The

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

I will say this is one of the most

enjoyable places I have visited.

There is soooo much to see here.

William Rockwell Nelson- a news

paper owner and Mary McAffee

Atkins-a school teacher both

enjoyed the arts and were looking

for a place here in KC, when both

passed on the trustees from their

estates agreed to combine their

funds and what we know as the

Nelson-Atkins Museum was born!

The Nelson as we know it is open

Wednesday-Sunday-see web for

their hours. Admission is FREE

except for special exhibits.

You can take a self guided tour

a mobile app. Reservations are

taken for school groups and

adult groups over six. There is

all kinds of art is here for you to

see, there is a sculpture garden

and the new Bloch Building is a

must see also.

AND

don't forget the Shuttlecocks!

You gotta see em!

www.nelson-atkins.org

~Keep on Dreaming~

No Go Today

Just an FYI: Your tour guide is under the weather. :( I hope to be back tomorrow . I am off to bed now--see you soon! ~Keep on Dreaming~

Going to Kansas City

K-- Our first stop today is Kauffman Stadium, the site for this year's 83rd All-Star Game! In 1973 it opened as Royals Stadium in the Truman complex. Many exciting games have been played here-The 1973 All-Star Game and the 1985 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Royals won the Championship that year!! Yea! In 1993, the stadium was renamed after the owner and prominent citizen of KC. Ewing Kauffman. The newly renovated jumbotran. More renovations. Seating in the outfield. In the old days, this was a landscaped area. No one was allowed up there. Now we can walk all around the stadium! Renovations began in '07. Today we enjoy a state of the art ball field where we can continue to enjoy the home team playing ball. Watch the All-Star game and you will see how beautiful our stadium is. Our stadium boasts one of the largest privately funded fountain in the world. (See the post on the fountains) Our next stop is the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. What started as a rendering on a cocktail napkin has become a premier vision on the KC skyline. Opening on the weekend of September 16-18, 2011, visitors were treated to tours of the Grand Hall and the two theatres that are housed here. Helzberg Hall is a 1,600 seat theatre oval in shape, it is home to the Kansas City Symphony. Many other musical productions have been seen in this theatre. It's focal point is the beautiful organ! The Muriel Kauffman Theatre is an 1,800 seat theatre that was inspired by opera houses of Europe. It plays host to many entertainers from Country to Pop, to Broadway and Comedy. The Kansas City Ballet and The Lyric Opera call this theatre home. This is the south side of the theatre. It is all glass and when the lights are on at night, it is magical to look at! The green area is the rooftop of the gargage--eco friendly and all. :) www.kauffmancenter.org

L--

We will move on now to The

Liberty Memorial and Monument.

Dedicated in November 1926, it is

a memorail to the solider's who died

in World War I. The National World

War I Museum is located here.

This is the monument and the museum

is located down under the monument.

One can also go to the top and see the

views of the city. For those who are

history buffs this is a "must see"

place to visit!

www.theworldwar.org

Moving on to one of our newest

attractions in the city. LEGOLAND!

Nuff said--it is located in the Crown

Center complex. Fun for all ages.

www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/kansascity

One of the more interesting

facades is the downtown

library garage. A block long

the "Community Bookshelf"

is 22 9 meter high bookspines.

Local residents chose the titles

for the bookspines. Local

author--Mark Twain. For

more information Google-

Downtown KC Library or

Community Bookshelf.

Our last stop for now is: the 75

acre Loose Park. It is the 3rd

largest park in KC and known

locally as the site of The Battle

of Westport. Ranked 23 of 74

attractions in KC, it is most

famous for it's beautiful rose

garden. There are more than

4,000 roses of nearly 150

varieties in this 1.5 acre garden.

The park is also a highly coveted

place to have one's wedding--

these book up months in advance!!!

I'm happy to say that my bridal photos

were taken here. This is another popular

thing to do in the park. It IS a beautiful

place! For more information Google-

Loose Park. That's it for now.

Hope you are enjoying the tour!

~Keep on Dreaming~

Going to Kansas City

H-- Today's tour begins with Hallmark Cards. "When you care enough to send the very best." For over 100 years Hallmark Cards has made KC home. Their world headquarters are located within the Crown Center complex. Cards, gifts, toys are developed and produced behind these walls. When visiting our fair city--make time to come to the Hallmark Visitor's center. While visiting you will discover the Hallmark story through interactive displays and interesting exhibits, these will give you a peek into the history and creative spirit of Hallmark. www.hallmarkvisitor'scenter.com I-- Up next-- Shawnee Indian Mission. (Cheating a little with the I) Located on beautiful grounds in a suburban setting, the mission was a manual training school for children from the Shawnee, Delaware and other Indian nations from 1839-54.

Also used for the Territorial

Governor offices , a supply

point on the Sante Fe and

Oregon Trails and a Union

Camp during the Civil War.

These buildings were also used

as a dorm and school for the

girls. One was used for classes

and living spaces for the

Superintendents and teachers.

Today you will find a

Visitor's Center, a gift

shop and exhibits in

another.

Many schools come to the

Mission on field trips. It

is an interesting place for

those interested in this era

of history.

www.shawneemission.kshs.org

Our last stop for today is

a restaurant well known

to Kansas Citians and

those from out of town who

have visited and returned

each time they are in town.

Jasper's is Kansas City's

MOST popular Italian Market

and Restaurant.

Jasper Sr and his mother opened

the doors in 1954 and some 45 years

later Jasper Jr heads the kitchen.

They are well known for their old

world recipes that produce hearty

and delicious dishes.

If you were with me in December,

you will remember that this is

where we celebrated our wedding

anniversary and it was DELICIOUS!

Back in the day a three course meal

cost the diner a mere .79 cent.

NOW...just a bit more. :) If you are

in town come to Jasper's for a

yummy in your tummy meal!

~Keep on Dreaming~