Union Station, Kansas City (must see)
Kansas City's Union Station is a historic station that opened in 1914, serving as a key transportation hub for the city and the surrounding metropolitan area. It replaced the smaller Union Depot from 1878, known for its distinctive blend of Second Empire and Gothic Revival architectural styles, designed by Asa Beebe Cross. By the early 20th century, the original depot struggled with overcrowding and flood risks, prompting the Kansas City Terminal Railway to commission a grand new station at 25th Street and Grand Avenue.
Designed by architect Jarvis Hunt in the Beaux-Arts style, Union Station covered 850,000 square feet, featuring a 95-foot-high Grand Hall, three massive chandeliers weighing 3,500 pounds each, and a prominent 6-foot clock face. When it opened on October 30, 1914, it was the third-largest train station in the United States, reflecting Kansas City's significance as a rail hub. During its peak in 1945, Union Station handled over 670,000 passengers annually, but usage declined rapidly in the 1950s, leading to its closure in 1985.
A transformative restoration effort began in 1996. This project revitalized the station, which reopened in 1999 as a cultural and entertainment complex featuring museums, theaters, and various attractions. By 2002, train service resumed when Amtrak began operations, making Union Station Missouri's second-busiest train station.
The station hosts attractions like Science City, the H&R Block City Stage Theater, the Regnier Extreme Screen, and the Gottlieb Planetarium, plus various restaurants, shops, and exhibits. Key tenants include the Irish Museum and Cultural Center (since 2007) and the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity (since 2011). Since 2016, it has also been a KC Streetcar stop, making it a vibrant, multi-use destination.
Why You Should Visit:
Science City is an interactive science city with hands-on exhibits for all ages.
Other on-site attractions include the Regnier Extreme Screen, the largest 3D theater in the area at five and a half stories tall. There's also the H&R Block City Stage Theatre for live shows and the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity, home to the Kansas City Ballet.
Various museum exhibitions are shown from time to time, and the region's largest planetarium is found here. There are also historical exhibits about the golden age of train travel and a model train exhibit.
Tips:
- There's a lot to see and do here; make sure to check out the venue's website for current theater and movie screenings and times.
- Don't miss traveling exhibitions that occasionally pass through town.
Designed by architect Jarvis Hunt in the Beaux-Arts style, Union Station covered 850,000 square feet, featuring a 95-foot-high Grand Hall, three massive chandeliers weighing 3,500 pounds each, and a prominent 6-foot clock face. When it opened on October 30, 1914, it was the third-largest train station in the United States, reflecting Kansas City's significance as a rail hub. During its peak in 1945, Union Station handled over 670,000 passengers annually, but usage declined rapidly in the 1950s, leading to its closure in 1985.
A transformative restoration effort began in 1996. This project revitalized the station, which reopened in 1999 as a cultural and entertainment complex featuring museums, theaters, and various attractions. By 2002, train service resumed when Amtrak began operations, making Union Station Missouri's second-busiest train station.
The station hosts attractions like Science City, the H&R Block City Stage Theater, the Regnier Extreme Screen, and the Gottlieb Planetarium, plus various restaurants, shops, and exhibits. Key tenants include the Irish Museum and Cultural Center (since 2007) and the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity (since 2011). Since 2016, it has also been a KC Streetcar stop, making it a vibrant, multi-use destination.
Why You Should Visit:
Science City is an interactive science city with hands-on exhibits for all ages.
Other on-site attractions include the Regnier Extreme Screen, the largest 3D theater in the area at five and a half stories tall. There's also the H&R Block City Stage Theatre for live shows and the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity, home to the Kansas City Ballet.
Various museum exhibitions are shown from time to time, and the region's largest planetarium is found here. There are also historical exhibits about the golden age of train travel and a model train exhibit.
Tips:
- There's a lot to see and do here; make sure to check out the venue's website for current theater and movie screenings and times.
- Don't miss traveling exhibitions that occasionally pass through town.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Kansas City. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Union Station on Map
Sight Name: Union Station
Sight Location: Kansas City, USA (See walking tours in Kansas City)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Kansas City, USA (See walking tours in Kansas City)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Kansas City, Missouri
Create Your Own Walk in Kansas City
Creating your own self-guided walk in Kansas City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Crossroads Art District Walking Tour
Situated at the intersection of creativity and culture, the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City emerges as a thriving hub of artistic expression and cultural vitality. Formerly the industrial and warehouse area, today it is one of the trendiest art communities in the Midwest. As such, this enclave is the place where many progressive art spots have established themselves.
Among its notable... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Among its notable... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Historical Buildings Tour
The historical buildings of Kansas City are truly remarkable, weaving a narrative of rich heritage and enduring elegance reflecting the city's eventful past and lasting beauty.
At its heart, the imposing Kansas City City Hall rises as a prime example of Neo-Classical and Beaux-Arts architecture, a stalwart symbol of civic pride that has stood the test of time.
As you stroll through the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
At its heart, the imposing Kansas City City Hall rises as a prime example of Neo-Classical and Beaux-Arts architecture, a stalwart symbol of civic pride that has stood the test of time.
As you stroll through the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Kansas City Introduction Walking Tour
Kansas City, Missouri, started in the 1830s as a port city at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. The first European explorers to map the area were the French, who named the river 鈥淐ansez,鈥� which eventually morphed into Kansas.
Louis and Clark passed through in 1804, noting that the area was an excellent place to build a fort. The actual settlement didn鈥檛 come until later,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Louis and Clark passed through in 1804, noting that the area was an excellent place to build a fort. The actual settlement didn鈥檛 come until later,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles