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Neon sign depicting people enjoying jazz music at The Museum at 18th and Vine

The American Jazz Museum opened on East 18th Street in Kansas City’s hotbed neighborhood for Jazz. They say “Jazz was born in New Orleans but grew up in Kansas City!”

Roy Wilkins pointing his finger as he speaks

Civil Rights activist, Roy Wilkins was born. He lived and worked in St. Louis and Kansas City.

Charlie Parker playing the saxophone

Birthday of Charlie “Bird” Parker, the legendary saxophonist who grew up in Kansas City, MO.

Coca-Cola Machine with 3 cent purchase price on the front

Elmer F. Pierson was born in Kansas City on this day. He and his brother, John, founded the Vendo company, maker of the first reliable Coca-Cola vending machines. For years they dominated the vending machine industry.

Portrait of Wild Bill Hickok

Wild Bill Hickok umpired the baseball game between rival teams from Atchison, KS and the Kansas City Antelopes. The Antelopes won 48 to 28. And yes, Wild Bill did wear both six guns while he called balls and strikes so there were no arguments.

A large baseball stadium filled with fans at dusk, with players on the field, bright stadium lights, a large digital scoreboard, and water fountains in the outfield. The scoreboard displays an animated graphic.

Beautiful Royals Stadium was re-dedicated as Kauffman Stadium.  

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It was a warm spring day! Thermometers in Kansas City were reading 113 degrees.

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The 50th Anniversary Miss Black America Pageant celebrates black beauty, empowerment, and positivity in a national TV special with Kansas City hospitality on display.

Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers was born as Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence in 1911, and she spent her early years in Independence and Kansas City. Ginger is best remembered for movies made with dancing partner Fred Astaire. She is famously credited for doing everything Astaire did, only backwards and in high heels.

KC Ballet Nutcracker

Local productions and traveling shows bring the iconic ballet to appreciative audiences here in Missouri. For professional ballet companies, The Nutcracker is often the most popular show of the season.

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Missourians love their coff ee now as much as they did hundreds of years ago when the French first brought coff ee to the shores of the Mississippi River. Indie co ffee shops, boutique roasters, national brands, and regional roasters are pleasing customers all over the state.

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Get in on what we’ve known all along. Kansas City is a city of champions.

A cheeseburger with avocado, tomato, and pickled red onions on a wooden board, topped with a toothpick holding a pickled onion ring.

A juicy, seasoned patty of beef wedged between cool, crisp leaves of lettuce with freshly sliced tomato … the classic American hamburger is a customer favorite that’s prominent on restaurant menus everywhere. But there are myriad ways to prepare and eat a burger, and somebody is always adding something new. The possibilities are endless. Bite …

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Krokstrom

At Krokstrom, owner and chef Katee McLean has staked a Scandinavian niche. Her restaurant honors her great-great- great-grandfather Anders Gustaf Krokstrom, who came to the United States in the 1860s.

Steamboat Arabia

The steamboat Arabia sank at Westport Landing. It has been raised and is now a wonderful museum. 

Blade Timber KC Ax Throwing TaraShupePhotography 053 3 e1532630882675

Taking the outdoors to the West Bottoms, two entrepreneurs have brought urban axe throwing to Kansas City. Blade & Timber founders Matt Baysinger and Ryan Henrich got their start in the escape room business with Breakout KC.

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This year marks the band’s 20th anniversary of playing together, but the members of the powerhouse Irish/ Celtic band recently announced that 2018 will be the last year they plan to perform together—at least for the foreseeable future.

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This article is sponsored by Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art When you walk into the front door of Kansas City’s Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art on Warwick Boulevard, right away you’ll see something you’ve never seen before. That’s because the museum commissions artists to create pieces for their atrium that are totally unique and site …

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Scribe

A Kansas City graffiti artist applies his skills to a mural for Mercy Children’s Hospital.

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The 9:00 AM premier of Gone With the Wind at the Midland in downtown Kansas City caused “a magnificent traffic jam.”

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Put your money in your shoe and saddle your horse. It’s time for a pint.

A roast pork joint with crispy crackling is sliced on a wooden board. Two carving utensils lie beside it, and a plate of baked apple wedges is in the background. Coarse salt and seasonings are visible on the pork.

It was reported that New Yorkers in Kansas City hotels were hoping to eat some buffalo meat. One hotel restaurant served them roast pork and, thinking it was buffalo, they went away happy.

A pulled pork sandwich with barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and pickles sits on a sheet of paper printed with a map. The sandwich is overstuffed, with sauce and filling spilling onto the paper.

We asked a handful of experts where to turn for the state’s best BBQ in Kansas City, St. Louis, and in between.

Close-up black and white photo of an older man's face, focusing intensely on his wide, expressive eyes and wrinkled forehead.

Missouri Life Magazine publishes articles relating to Missouri culture, subscribe today. See the beautiful work of Picasso in Kansas City

A person wearing a helmet rides a bicycle on a gravel trail surrounded by dense green trees and foliage, with sunlight filtering through the branches.

The Rock Island Trail, connecting the greater Kansas City area to Missouri’s Katy Trail system, is an experience to savor whether you are walking, cycling, or on horseback.

Kansas City Paseo Massacre

Three policemen and one bystander were killed in what came to be known as Kansas City’s Paseo Massacre.  

Kansas City Star Office

The Kansas City Star was established and published its first edition. 

Broadway Bridge Kansas City

The Broadway Bridge, which crosses the Missouri River, opened in Kansas City. 

A basket with French fries and a chili dog topped with chopped onions and mustard, served on red and white checkered paper. A yellow squeeze bottle is visible in the background.

Undoubtedly, 1904 was a big year for the hot dog. Its most famous topping, French’s yellow mustard, and the hot dog itself were both exposed to the masses at the World’s Fair in St. Louis. New York can claim French’s as its own, but the biggest hot dog purveyor at the fair was a Missourian.