Kansas City, MO

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: One of America’s best encyclopedic art museums, it's comprehensive features include a growing collection of modern sculpture enhanced with works by contemporary African American artists such as Alison Saar, Betye Saar and Martin Puryear; considered one of the nation's leading private museums, the Nelson houses treasures from around the world; recently expanded with major new wings and a reflecting pool; this museum is so comprehensive in its holdings you can visit for 3 hours or 3 days, yet leave with an equal sense of delight

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: Wed 10a-4p, Thu-Fri 10a-9p, Sat 10a-5p, Sun Noon-5p

ADDRESS: 4525 Oak Street  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 816-751-1278

WEBSITE: http://www.nelson-atkins.org

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
DESCRIPTION: Opened 1994, a entrance features an articulated skylight atrium and is the signature of this 23,000 square feet venue; features selections from the permanent collection and while is smaller galleries feature rotating exhibitions; works of art are always on view in each wing; presents 10–12 special exhibitions; group and solo artist exhibitions feature established and emerging artists from the America and worldwide, including Alison Saar; lectures, film and video series, performances, and workshops are offered on a regular basis

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: Tue–Thu 10a–4p, Fri–Sat 10a–9p, Sun 11a–5p

ADDRESS: 4420 Warwick Blvd  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 816-753-5784

WEBSITE: http://www.kemperart.org

Liberty Memorial & National World War I Museum
DESCRIPTION: The Liberty Memorial was dedicated in 1926; its grounds include two large sphinx sculptures and the landmark 217-foot tower; in 2006 the $26 million National World War I Museum opened at the site as well; although it has a large collection of artifacts from the war, the new exhibits are quite engaging

ADMISSION: Adults $12, Age 65+ and Students w/ID $10, Ages 6-17 $6

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 100 West 26th Street  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 816-784-1918

WEBSITE: http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org

Arabia Steamboat Museum
DESCRIPTION: Nicknamed the “King Tut's Tomb of the Missouri River”, it features more than 200 tons of recovered artifacts from the sunken 1856 steamboat Arabia; exhibits and touchable treasures tell the story of the boat's Missouri River demise and amazing rediscovery in 1988

ADMISSION: Adults $12.50, Age 60+, Ages 4-12 $5

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-5:30p, Sun Noon-5p

ADDRESS: 400 Grand Blvd  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 816-471-1856

WEBSITE: http://www.1856.com

Toy & Miniature Museum
DESCRIPTION: A renovated 1911 mansion on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus features 33 rooms filled with antique toys, dollhouses, marbles and scale miniatures dating from the mid-1800s to the present; includes an impressive collection of fine scale miniatures like Noah's Ark and the Palace of Versailles, antique dollhouses and the largest marble collection on display in the world

ADMISSION: Adults $7, Age 65+ and Students $6, Age 5-12 $5, Age 4 and under enter Free

DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sat 10a-4p, Sun 1p-4p

ADDRESS: 5235 Oak Street  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 816-333-9328

WEBSITE: http://www.umkc.edu/tmm

Kansas City Museum - Union Station
DESCRIPTION: Its like visiting a time machine – okay maybe that’s a stretch, but the mansion-turned-museum gives you a sense of Kansas City from the 1800s onwards with regional history displays, a 50-seat planetarium and natural history dioramas; Starlight Inside The Museum Planetarium lets you gaze upon the stars with each show is designed to highlight constellations as they appear throughout the year; donations suggested upon entry

ADMISSION: Science City $10, Extreme Screen $8.50, Children & Seniors $7, KC Rail Experience $7, Model Railroad Experience FREE with any Union Station ticket, Planetarium $6, City Stage -prices vary

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 9:30a-4:30p,
 Sun Noon-4:30p

ADDRESS: 30 West Pershing Road  MAP

PARKING: four-level per hour parking garage on the west side of Union Station

PHONE: 816-483-8300

WEBSITE: http://www.unionstation.org

Independence, MO

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
DESCRIPTION: Became President in 1945, when Franklin Roosevelt died in office; Famous for the sign on his desk which read, “The Buck Stops Here”; Despite a lot of political heat, President Truman deserves props for issuing the executive order in 1947 to integrate America’s armed services; his papers which formally desegregated the services are on view here

ADMISSION: $8 Adults, $7 Age 65+, $3 Ages 6-15, Ages 5 and under

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sun 9a-5p, Thu 9a-9p

ADDRESS: 500 West US Highway 24  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 816-833-1225

WEBSITE: http://www.trumanlibrary.org

Liberty, MO

Jesse James Bank Museum
DESCRIPTION: Site of the first U.S. daylight, peacetime bank robbery; located on the northeast corner of the historic Liberty square

ADMISSION: small fee

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-4p

ADDRESS: 103 North Water Street  MAP

PARKING: on street

PHONE: 816-781-4458

WEBSITE: http://www.historicdowntownliberty.org