Kansas City
A refreshing run for fresh flowers at Kansas City Market; credit KCVA
Kansas City Barbecue, Jazz, Negro Leagues Baseball, and family attractions are a joy for most travelers. But there are also nightclubs and restaurants for couple getaways in this Midwest gem.
History
Cowboy heritage in this city is key to how African Americans view many Midwest states
Cultural Sites
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, American Jazz Museum and Bird Monument are must-visits
Historic Sites
18th & Vine Streets and 12th Street Heritage districts are Black gems of history
Buck O’Neil of the Kansas City Monarchs and founder of the Negroe Leagues Baseball Museum
Restaurants & Nightclubs
Gates Barbecue and Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue icons, but far from the only great BBQ spots
Shops & Galleries
Check out Afrocentric shops and more on 18th & Vince Streets
Kansas City Barbecue
There is serious restaurant competition over the best-tasting barbecue sauce
18th & Vine District
The district was a magnet for Black folks from Omaha, Oklahoma City, Denver & St. Louis
World-famous Gates Bar-B-Q in Kansas City; (c) Soul Of America
Places of Worship
Check out Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church and Jamison Memorial Temple CME Church
Kansas City Jazz
Charlie “Yardbird” Parker or “Bird” for short, was born and raised in Kansas City
Family Attractions
Crown Center and Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun should be included on your itinerary
General Attractions
There is a spectrum of general attractions with day trips
Bird Lives monument near 18th & Vine, Kansas City; (c) Soul Of America
The Arts
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art are regional showcases
Trivia
Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard & Buck O’Neil highlight Negro Leagues baseball luminaries
Wichita
A nearby city with great Native American and Black heritage