Before there were airplanes or interstates, there were the trails. Starting not too far from here…read morein Independence, Missouri, the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails passed through Olathe before splitting toward their own routes west. Some of those trails later became paved roads and perhaps super highways, but the Independence Trails marker and artwork in Olathe bring you back to the era when families traveled by wagon, following paths carved by emigrants, merchants and soldiers between the 1830s and 1860s. The sculpture here depicts a family heading west with their wagon pulled by animals, a visual reminder of the thousands who passed through Johnson County in search of opportunity. Brown trail signs across the county mark these historic routes, and the marker ties directly into that broader story of westward movement described by Johnson County's historic trail documentation. The artwork sits just a short distance from the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, a major waypoint where travelers once rested and resupplied before continuing along the Westport Route, though I didn't stop there today. The marker and sculpture together make the history feel immediate. You're standing in a place where the Oregon, California and Santa Fe Trails once converged before splitting at Gardner Junction, and where countless travelers camped at nearby Lone Elm Park on their first night west of the Missouri River. It's a compact stop, but a meaningful one, especially if you enjoy seeing how modern cities preserve the memory of the trails that shaped them. [Review 843 of 2026 - 150 in Kansas - 26024 overall]

fabulous railway bridge spanning the Missouri River in the middle of Kansas City. the intricate…read moresuperstructure is confounding at first glance and the jumble of pulleys, cables, and crossbeams seem a catastrophe waiting for the most inopportune time to happen... but no, the Armour-Swift-Burlington Bridge used to sport automobile traffic above the train tracks! the railroad deck rides on a vertical-lift bridge that by some feat of magic (or perhaps just sound engineering practices and counterweighting) could be raised to permit boats traffic below without disturbing the vehicular traffic above and it remained thus until Missouri Route 6 was relocated to the Heart of America bridge when it opened next door in 1987 (what!?!) maybe coulda, woulda, shoulda reworked the whole upper deck for non-motorized crossings to preserve the look and feel if not the actual function since the bikey-types won't be safe or happy until they don't have to contend with car traffic (can't really argue that point but this is a bridge review not a dream sequence) ...coming in at nearly 1500 feet it's pretty darn impressive for the half-bass-ackward folks in 1911. yea for engineering!

As a frequent traveler around the South, I've seen plenty of Civil War markers and battlefields,…read morefrom Antietam to Sharpsburg to Gettysburg and more, but I'm not a Civil War expert. I know the conflict reached into Western Missouri, but I had honestly forgotten the specifics, so finding this marker in Independence snapped that history back into focus. The sign lays out the 1864 skirmish where Union forces under General Alfred Pleasanton clashed with Confederate troops led by General James Fagan. It reads, "On the 22nd Fagan's Division of Price's Army was defending against the advance of Union Gen. Pleasonton from the east. Two of Fagan's Brigades were driven from the Little Blue River to the eastern edge of town. The Union attack was made first from the NE with Philips' Brigade and the 2nd Arkansas (Union) both on foot. McNeil's Brigade then charged through town mounted. Cabell's Brigade came up to stop the Union advance. He was driven back and many of his men were surrounded. Near this spot two of his guns were captured and he barely escaped." The marker is Tour Stop E and it was erected by the City of Independence. It provides directions to Stop F, West on Lexington to Crysler. [Review 828 of 2026 - 546 in Missouri - 26009 overall]

Giving a five star review for an abandoned building seems out of place, but my visit today has been…read moredecades in the making and is an afternoon that i can't wait to tell friends about and share photos. Built in 1897 as Kansas City's workhouse jail and later served as a storage facility, marine training center and an animal euthanasia center until being abandoned in 1972. With it's dark history, graffiti, collapsed roofs, dark stairwells, debris, and remnants of homelessness everywhere, my solo visit was slightly macabre and a bit scary not knowing if I was alone when turning each corner. I did run into two other explorers and one homeless person in my self guided tour of the darkside. There was talk about a decade ago of renovating the property into a venue for weddings and concerts but that failed to materialize. My advise to you is put on your big-boy pants (or girl) grab a friend and go explore an iconic architectural piece of history before it's too late.

Really neat place to wander around BUT there are a lot of dangers here and you shouldn't bring your…read morekids. You need to wear closed, thick shoes, too. There's a lot of needles and broken bottles, etc. because the property is actively used. Graffiti is outstanding.

After visiting the Truman home at 219 Delaware I have a newfound respect for the Truman family…read more This is mostly due to the fact that the Truman family stole the original copy of the painting of the first lady from the Whitehouse, and they did nothing about it. Also the inference that the Whitehouse is the "white jail" is highly amusing and speaks to the isolation of world leaders and their people. Once you become the leader of an Empire, there is no return to normal life. Also, the fact that other world leaders and other celebrities sat on that hideous blue couch is also highly amusing. 5/5 Would accidently set off buzzers to nonpermitted areas again.

Quick snapshot of the man from Independence, MO…read more If you're interested in visiting the Truman house at 219 Delaware, you will need to stop here for tickets and a time slot. This site on Main will put you in touch with the NPS Rangers who will have you watch a short film about the 33rd President, his rise to the Presidency, and his rise attempt to normalize after leaving office. After the film you will have the opportunity to head over to Delaware and visit the Noland House (which belonged to his aunt and uncle), which houses a small assortment of Truman artifacts, or you can stroll from Independence Square (5 blocks to the house), along the same streets that President Truman walked before, during, and after his presidency. The house itself is as it was when Bess Truman passed away in the 1980s. Inside you will find a very unassuming life that her husband attempted to keep. He tried his best to not let his role as leader of the free world get to his head. Despite that, the former president was a point of interest for folks passing through Kansas City and Independence, Missouri. During the 30-ish minutes, Ranger led tour, you can't take photos, but you can certainly understand the Trumans did their best to live a peaceful and "normal" life and that's the way they lived the entire time. It's surprising how many generations of Trumans lived in that tiny little home, but they made the most of it. This site adds another touch to the life of the 33rd POTUS, and adds another layer to the exhibits you can see at the Truman Library and Museum down the road.

Went to a gathering here and it was well climate controlled, plus the area was clean and there was…read morea lot of space. Definitely worth considering for event hosting.

Could you all fix the fucking Internet? I can't even listen to my music, using all my data because…read moreyou all have your busted ass Wi-Fi. How hard is it to upgrade it so people can actually use it. For the love of God fix the fucking Internet.

There is a bit of history here. We were in the shadow of this bridge on Halloween weekend…read more As we stood in line in front of a haunted house on a beautiful October night. The underside of the bridge is lit up and full of activity. There is space on this double-decker bridge that you can rent for events. If you review online there is lots of history on the multiple times it has been rebuilt over the year because of natural disasters or the by request. Its a beautiful urban structure that preserved the giant archways.

Have you ever wanted to get from downtown to the West Bottoms but didn't know how? Try the 12th…read morestreet bridge! In days of yore, this bridge was a crumbling mess of potholes and urban decay, but after a lengthy renovation, it's now a smooth, well lit connector between the two neighborhoods. So, it's a bridge. What's so special about a bridge, warranting a review? Well, because when you are standing from the bottoms, it provides one of the most fascinating and "urban beautiful" views of downtown! Throughout the renovation they were careful to preserve the giant stone archways. Formerly a double-decker bridge, you can walk on the lower level for a unique perspective on the old West Bottoms warehouses. I've heard of the space being rented out for parties or events. I only hope that I can throw an event there someday, it'd be sure to be a hit! It's really easy to cross the bridge and think nothing of it. But someday I recommend walking around the neighborhood, exploring the bridge from all angles. It's gorgeous and definitely worth a gander. It's true, they really don't make them like they used to!

My niece had a wedding here, and it was lovely. The facilities are gorgeous. Highly recommend it!read more

THE GATSBY ON OAK IS TRULY THE MOST STUNNING VENUE IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA! It is an amazing,…read morehistoric, gorgeously renovated building! It has SO many things to offer KC!! I was fortunate to stop by there before a wedding photo shoot and it literally took my breath away! I walked in the front door and was greeted with gorgeous chandeliers that go all the way down the hall and into the ball room! To the left is a bridal parlor and the right is a grooms parlor. I loved the barn door closures in these rooms and was told they came from the old lifts/elevators in their building. Every square inch, every little detail has been so well thought out. The back bar is absolutely awesome that will rival any bar, anywhere! A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE WENT INTO THIS BUILDING! I just can't tell you how very, very cool this place is! The Gatsby is not only the most beautiful wedding venue I have ever seen, but a really great place to host many other events! The Gatsby can take on different forms...feminine or masculine! I got so many different vibes when I was there! The event specialist, Kary is a genius in he field! One is most blessed to have her handle any of their events! Bottom line...IT IS A DROP DEAD GORGEOUS KIND OF PLACE WITH BEST IN THE BIZ TO HANDLE IT!