Talk about a fabulous way to repurpose an iconic building in JoCo! The site of the old King Louie…read morebowling alley has given way to the Arts & Heritage Center containing an exhibit better known as the Johnson County Museum. Instead of erecting another concrete monstrosity, JoCo took a piece of its expansion and history to house that very same dynamic. The Arts & Heritage Center itself is a wonderful facility, blending local & regional art, classes, and community space. It also doubles as an election polling location particularly focused on early voting opportunities (exercise your right!). Taking that classic 1960s suburban architecture, complete with stone walls & beams in a pseudo-flying buttress, and turning it into a new piece of the community is a *chef's kiss* of civic planning. Where you once may have tried to pick up a 7-10 split, you now can tour decades of people & progress. The museum itself costs $6 for adults with discounted admission for seniors, veterans, & children. It doesn't take long to get immersed in the interactivity and to get mesmerized by JoCo's storied past. Take in the public art displays or stop into the gift shop for keepsakes of the visit. Virtually every event has been well-documented, notable people are memorialized, and the chronology only keeps moving forward. Northeast Kansas continues to grow and find new ways to reinvent progress, so be sure to grasp the spirit of expansion that has occurred in this beautiful metro area.

Me and my family have went to the Johnson County Museum many times, the facilities are always clean…read moreand the workers are always very friendly, and the children's area gets cleaned everyday from 12:00-12:30. The Johnson County Museum is very good for toddlers and younger kids ages 2-10 but for anyone older I would say that they would get bored pretty easily. Over all the Johnson County Museum is a great place to bring your children on a rainy day to keep them busy I would definitely recommend.

There are 6 interior galleries with an exterior sculptures around the building. The Kemper is…read morefree. There is small parking lot around the building as well as street parking. I am counting the restaurant ( Oil on Linen ) as a gallery because it features The History of Art by Frederick James Brown. It's a huge series that highlights major artists over the past couple centuries. The atrium is the second gallery that has rotating works and permanent installations. There are four other galleries as well. There are two on each sides of the center. Each of the galleries rotates and has a theme or single artist.

Visited a couple weeks ago and finally getting this posted. They had a really cool setup where you…read morecould wear a headset and listen to live music while walking through the building and galleries -- free, and a great way to experience the space differently. Parking was a bit of a challenge, so give yourself extra time. But the building makes up for it -- the front has a beautiful view looking out over Kansas City. Good stop if you're into contemporary art, and the live music/headset experience made it feel like more than just a walk-through.

Lovely rock barn smack dab in the middle of Lenexa. I'm always happy when history is preserved for…read moreus to see and enjoy, because it helps us appreciate how far we've come and celebrate the endurance of those who made a home in the wilderness.

The Legler Barn Museum complex in the northwest corner of Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park is a wonderful…read morepiece of preserved history. A Civil War era large rock barn that once sat near 95th and Quivira was de-constructed and rebuilt in Lenexa stone by stone in the 1980's. Inside is an odd collection of anything that is a relic of a bygone era from Johnson County. Furniture, toys, quilts, a telephone switchboard...there is also a very large collection of sunflower related objects that a local gentleman started. Being a collector of political paraphernalia, I loved seeing all of the political buttons! It's a bit of an odd and definitely eclectic hodge-podge of stuff, but it works and the price is free to enter, although donations are welcomed. Next to the barn is an old depot that was relocated there and contains a large horse buggy and lots of railroad memorabilia. There is also a caboose and an old interurban passenger shelter that is there. A great architectural salvage project keeping local history alive for future generations!

This is a cool historic house that stands between the busy Ward Parkway and State Line Road. The…read morereal strength for then is going to be subject to what event is happening here, as there are weddings, public events, even the occasional Civil War reenactment. Parking here is tough for a big event so they often resort to parking on the grass. As for the barn itself... it's A-OK. Maybe I've come to expect more with all the fancy schmancy barn weddings of late, but this is pretty pared down inside.

I have driven past this house many an occasion, but I didn't know it hosted special events until I…read morehelped celebrate with my friend at his wedding reception there on Saturday. There is a barn *chock-full* of historic paraphanelia, not just from historic conestoga wagons, but from the farm life of the time: harvesting implements and tools. There's a period ax right next to the back door. There is a huge sprawling lawn where we were able to play some bocce ball (I lost :-( ) and a 2nd floor that made the dancing area in the barn that much more cosy. GREAT place to host an event.

If you are looking for an underrated gem, this unassuming museum is an absolute must-visit. Our…read moregroup spent about 1.5 hours exploring, and it was worth every minute. Tip: Start on the 2nd floor as the museum is split across two floors. The 2nd floor is Toys and a complete walk down memory lane. It's packed with nostalgia, featuring games and classic items from the last century--everything from vintage Mouse Trap to Chinese Checkers. The 1st floor is Fine Miniatures. Do yourself a favor and save this for last. The first floor houses fine scale miniatures that are plain mind-blowing. The level of craftsmanship and architectural detail in these tiny masterpieces is unbelievable. Before you leave, make sure to pop into the nifty little gift shop. They have some super fun items, including mini tabletop versions of games like Mini Monopoly. Highly recommended!

A group of us spent part of our weekend exploring this incredible museum in the heart of Kansas…read moreCity, and it was pure magic from start to finish. ​The fine-scale miniatures are an absolute marvel of patience, precision, and artistry. Having recently visited the Truman Library, seeing a miniature replica of Truman's Oval Office shrunk down with microscopic accuracy--right down to the tiniest nitty-gritty details on the desk--was amazing to see up close. There are far too many highlights to squeeze into one miniature review, but the massive 1,000-pound dollhouse from the late 1800s completely stopped us in our tracks. ​On the toy side of the aisle, wandering through generations of playthings was a blast--even if realizing I'm officially old enough to be part of vintage museum nostalgia was a funny, slightly bittersweet pill to swallow. They also have three hypnotic rolling-ball kinetic sculptures where you just zone out watching the spheres navigate intricate winding tracks. It's oddly calming, very zen, and almost impossible to pull your eyes away from. ​To top off the visit, I nearly committed accidental petty crime on the way out. I picked up an adorable tiny Monopoly game in the gift shop, got distracted, and walked right out the front door before realizing I hadn't paid. When I hurried back inside to confess, the cashier laughed and pointed out the irony of accidentally playing a real-life Get Out of Jail Free card with Monopoly. ​Definitely check this place out, whether you appreciate mind-boggling micro-craftsmanship or just want to let your inner kid run loose for an afternoon.

What's not to like about this money museum inside Kansas City's beautiful Federal Reserve building?…read more Admission was free, parking was free and no reservations were required. I was subject to an airport-style screening when entering, but the staff were professional and fairly friendly. The museum included the extensive Harry S. Truman coin collection, which was a wall of coins from our country's founding to present, including gold and silver coins - nice! The exhibit area included bills from our country's founding to present, including large denominations and Confederate currency. It also included a gold bar lift challenge, a counterfeit currency exhibit, interactive exhibits for the kiddos and a wall of $100 bills totaling $40 million. It was also possible to see the operational currency processing area (no pictures allowed) where they don't print currency, but they do review it for counterfeit, worn, soiled or damaged bills and then distribute it to regional banks. The bad bills are shredded and available for free in small packages as you leave the tour. I also noticed a small theater with a Federal Reserve educational video playing on a loop. The museum is located very close to the National WWI Memorial, a scenic KC skyline viewpoint and Union Station. Overall, it was an excellent experience and a great way to see the history of US currency.

What an awesome place to visit in KC, MO! This was a blizzardy Valentine's Weekend and we decided…read moreto check out museums in the area. I chose the Money Museum because I have a fascination with Federal Banks, The Fed, and everything involving our Country's Robust Economy. We parked in the visitor spaces in the lot and trekked through the snow to the entrance. When you drive up to this place, there are barriers in the roadway for cars so that they breach the entrance; great security measure. There are Federal Police who ask for your State Issued ID and then you go through a metal detector. They are pretty kind about the process, and professional. When you get inside, it is AMAZING! The Presidential Coin Collection is FANTASTIC! They have interactive exhibits that teach you all about the economy, The Fed, the whole setup of our economic system, and it is very nice. I love how they tell you about how money bills are made, and also allow you to touch samples of A the fabric or end product. There are a lot of historical facts at this museum. There is a theatre exhibit where the 12min movie teaches you everything about The Federal Reserve and The Fed. It is phenomenal. On the way out, you can take a free sample of shredded defective money. They shred 40 million dollars a day at this location. Very very cool experience.

"Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car." -E.B. White…read more The Kansas City Automotive Museum is one of those places where the experience shifts every time you walk through the door, because the cars on display rotate in and out and each one is a "gift" from an owner who decided to share their automotive "sculpture" with the rest of us. The vehicles are packed in ticket and nearly every one comes with a caption that gives you a little history lesson about the manufacturer, the model and often the personal story of how it ended up in the owner's hands. Most of the displays include QR codes with translations, which is a thoughtful touch especially if English isn't your primary language and you want to dig deeper into the details. On my visit, the standouts were the 1925 Jordan Seven Passenger Sedan, the 1929 Packard Roadster, and the 1959 Chevy El Camino, each one rare, beautiful, and full of character. There were at least a dozen other rare cars plus a great display about the former Leeds factory, complete with memorabilia and artifacts that add a layer of Kansas City history to the experience. If you're a real fan like me, expect to spend two hours, wandering, reading, admiring and appreciating what these owners have chosen to share. Don't miss the posters on the wall with other interesting details and history. It's a tremendous time. [Review 842 of 2026 - 149 in Kansas - 26023 overall]

What a curious creation. This place is an amalgam of the collections of the donors, as most cars in…read morethis facility are temporarily donated by benefactors, supportive of the idea of a collection of vehicle history in one place. The cars were beautiful, though if I'm being honest plainly beautiful. There also weren't too many options to choose from, to catch the wandering eye. It feels like it's less a museum, and more of a person dedicating their life to a car club of sorts. This place is a gussied up garage of shorts. There's a couple of notable pieces in here that capture the mind for a short moment or two, and some displays, thematic in nature, are of interest. But, I could take this or leave it mostly. Maybe I'm not that in the cars is the problem. The most interesting part I think is that the vehicles are all donated on loan from benefactors, and the collection changes all the time. The community of this seems most interesting. I felt almost like I was in the cleanest garage of all time, and not ever like I was in a museum filled with pieces of wonderful human innovation. If you're in the vehicles, you probably would like it more than I did. I thought I did, but in my old age it just seems to be metal and glass not long for this side of the scrap heap.

This has been the second time I have gotten to go to this event. The first time, it was still held…read moreat the riverfront park. Performers on multiple stages playing my favourite music. Organised places to get signatures and meet your favourites. All while stopping by the multiple tents to pick up another Guinness! I expected a few more vendors selling their crafts; however, I understand that to do so has become harder and harder. There is an issue with some crafters using a lot of Cheap AI Art or the overabundance of 3d printed tchotchkes. But, a few more selling good items would have been welcome. I don't think there were more food options to choose from. I, of course, chose items that could be considered standard Irish fare. Too much on while watching the shows. It was a good turnout. Only bad experiences were with other goers who just didn't bother to consider that there were people around them. But, that isn't the norm and were few and far between on the 12 hours that we were there! Note: Love the HIGH KINGS!!!

I can't tell you how many years I have attended this event, It is always a great event. So many…read moregreat bands and performers. With everything from a silent disco, Bingo, cultural movies and talks, along with a whole area for the kids to play and run. Plus a row of food venders and beer tents. There is also a large area of art dealers and tents. It is easy to get there in the morning and make a day of the event.