This museum has relocated to inside of the Truman Memorial building a few blocks west of the…read moreIndependence square - it was originally a few blocks south of the square. Admission is free with donations accepted. It starts with a 20 minute video that i recommend to get you acclimated to the importance that the frontier trails played in shaping this nation's history and growth. The museum is broken into sections on the California, Sante Fe, Oregon, and Mormon Trails and also showcases the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the fur trade. There's lots to read and lots of artifacts. It was personally intriguing since I have recently discovered that ancestors of mine trekked both the California and Mormon trails. There are certainly more interesting and larger museums in the region but i would recommend this one highly to show why our metropolitan area was critical to westward expansion.

My interest in the Oregon trail starts here in Independence, Missouri, since I know that the…read moremajority of the westward expansion movement in America started here in Independence in the mid 1800's. I know on the Oregon Trail since my youth playing the video games and that sparked my interest in seeing the real stuff in person. So once the opportunity came to see artifacts and exhibits pertaining to the Oregon Trail was made available, I jumped at the chance to see it before leaving the area. It was nice to come to this museum after searching on TripAdvisor and Yelp to find a good museum that caters to the Oregon Trail. I arrived here around 3:30pm on a brisk and casual Monday in October 2017 after picking up my rental car in Overland Park, KS. I had about an hour to browse through everything before leaving the museum at 4:30pm. The museum itself isn't large but had quite a bit of exhibits and information about the Oregon trail and its associated historic significance in the independence Missouri area. For the most part though, it was nice to see more of the artifacts and historical stories that made the travel from Independence mo to Oregon, California, and even Utah way back before the invention of the car. Those were rough times on the frontier and these brace souls risk their lives for the betterment of themselves and the growing country. The overall experience here at the National Frontier Trail museum was very fascinating, good, positive, and educational. I learned more about some of the pioneers' stories and the incredible hardships they had to endure throughout their journey: diseases, dehydration, starvation, weather, and the hostile Native American people were basically the main contributors to what they had to put up with on their long haul to the Pacific Ocean. This place does charge admission fee, but I lucked out, since I came in late, I got charged the senior rate, so I saved a couple of $$. Admission fee is get nominal though, so it is always good to support museums that support your need for knowledge and curiosity. They accept major credit cards, as well as cash. I was here when they had construction equipment here nearby, but I chose to park around the corner. They have parking spaces here for people visiting. Just didn't know how that would work, but I had a nice walk to and from the car regardless. For the most part though, my experience really wanted me to solidify my knowledge base of the Oregon trail and how the American pioneers risked death to achieve their dreams of living on the edge of the western fringes of America. The museum building itself was one story, but large enough to accommodate the exhibits, its artifacts, and collections of items that relates to the Oregon trail and its associated westward expansion of American civilization past the Mississippi River. The place was very much kid friendly and clean. It's quiet and casual like a library, so do yourselves favor by keeping your concerns and conversations to a dull roar. Be respectful that they kind of frown upon loud people and obnoxious individuals. If you are interested in this part of American history and near Independence, Missouri, consider coming and spending some time here. You will be enlightened by the hardship and sacrifices needed to undertake and understand what they did to survive and to build a nation. Hard work and dedication to what you do makes waves. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. You might want to have lunch first before coming here. It can be worth it if you stay long and soak up the knowledge and be amazed. I wish I could have been there earlier but had a time crunch. Support local! A+

Bring your air buds to listen (respectfully) to the narrative on the QR codes throughout the place…read more Nice little museum

Visiting KC from NY primarily to go to National WW I museum. Stumbled upon this museum. Excellent!…read moreHad to go through background check to enter fort property, but worth it. Totally recommend.

Following my visit to the parade of hearts at the Wyandotte County Museum, I took the opportunity…read moreto explore the museum's new exhibits, which featured artifacts from Wyandotte County Kansas .The first exhibit showcased memorabilia from TWA, General Motors, Peters Menu, View, Master, and a nurse's uniform Bethany Hospital, brick from Bethany Hospital, Robert B Hansford photographer studio in Minnesota Avenue. There is a exhibit on Sumner Academy that is very interesting talks about Health. Their name got changed and their color of their uniforms and this talks about the students in the staff. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM the museum is free

During my staycation week, I've committed myself to visit a few local attractions that I have…read moreoverlooked during the past few decades. Today I ventured out to Bonner Springs to see the Wyandotte County Museum. I was very impressed with the collection and presentation. The west wing is entirely devoted to indigenous culture and artifacts from the region. This is probably the finest collection in the area; at least that I have seen, with Wyandotte, Shawnee and Delaware tribes being the most prominent. The east wing contains displays and relics from the more modern era of WyCo. Hispanic baseball and KCKFD were the two most prominent, but dozens more displays of neighborhoods, industry, schools, the wars, the floods.... Located next to "Sandstone" amphitheater in a beautiful park, it is well worth a visit for anyone with even a small interest in history; and it's free!

KC got a major upgrade with the move of the National Archive to the Union Station complex and…read moredowntown. Now visitors to the metro can view exhibits and do research in a central and convenient location. The building houses a full-fledged research center, but also exhibits from the national archives collection. When we visited, there was a room dedicated to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which set the stage for the Civil War. The actual document was sitting in front of you. The National Archives at Union Station is yet another cultural amenity added downtown in the last few years. Although the exhibits aren't blockbusters by any means they are very well done and make you think. Many feature poignant and interesting stories about the region. The location is a bit hidden and faces away from the street, but is worthy of a trip for any history buff for research or recreation.

Hidden treasure in Kansas City. Have had some great exhibits over recent years. Exhibits have…read moreslowed in last 12 months. They also have occasional events / speakers. Keep hoping they will get back to core history topics as a few events have been a bit political. But again. A great asset for kc.

I learned more from him, than I did in school. We rode through Independence and we stopped to talk…read moreabout each building/location. It was a wondrous experience and helped connect some dots. We homeschool and for history lessons, I find it more beneficial to utilize museums and more interactive resources for learning and retaining information. "There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know."

The whole experience was amazing! The history lesson of the civil war, Missouri and trail riding…read more Ralph was spectacular. His merch: I bought his book expecting more history lessons found myself advancing in my spiritual journey... thank you for the guidance and wisdom. I am being pulled away from Luke warm water and learning to navigate.

I have long had an aversion to any mode of locomotion that did not have mechanical brakes. If it…read morewere not for this fear, I might have long ago become a champion roller skater, skier, ice skater, or surfer. Thus, it was with a bit of apprehension that I signed up for Segway Bike & Stroll. Yet, within minutes, Kelly had my group and I safely, confidently, and agilely moving around on our Segways. (Only one person in our tourist group of three had been on a Segway before.) If you are new to this city and go on this tour, I guarantee that you will most likely (1) fall in love with the beauty of Kansas City and (2) want to start going on other Segway tours as you travel to major cities around the world.

What a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon. Our tour guide, Kyle, had interesting bits about the…read moreplaces we visited and made sure we were all capable and ready to ride. Most importantly, I Did It. The feeling is amazing. Definitely recommend this business!

This is a great activity for young children. My wife came here as a kid and we've enjoyed taking…read moreour son here. It's priced well at $1 per ride per person. I can't wait until the additions are finished.

My kids are hooked! This volunteer-run miniature train station has the sweetest volunteers and…read moreeveryone is happy to be there. If you sit on the back, they might ask the kids to be the ones to yell "all aboard." The train is clean and very well kept. It can seat me and my toddler side by side but it's a little tighter for my husband. A single dollar will give you two loops around. If you are lucky, you might see a deer hanging around. My kids love entering the tunnel and searching for Train Buddy, a dog toy that moves around every time we visit. There is a small climbing train for the kids to play on between rides and a picnic table for snacks. One suggestion is to use the bathroom before you visit unless you want to use the porta potty. Oh, lastly...The main street to access the location is currently closed on the north end so make sure to check your map before you visit.

I inherited my grandfathers Masonic items and wanted to have a place to display this collection and…read morepreserve it for years to come, so I searched the internet for ideas and options. I came across something close to what I was looking for on the Parkview Frame Gallery website, so I reached out via email and shared some photos of the items I had and the the reference photo from his gallery. The owner, Jason, and I corresponded back and forth until he had an idea of what I was looking for. I wanted a built in drawer to hold my grandfathers Masonic cuff links, tie tacks, and pins and a removable display stand to showcase some of my grandfathers medallions. I took some measurements, and a few days later, Jason sent me a hand drawn sketch to approve. I put down a deposit, and a few months later, my custom display case arrived. In addition to being easy to work with, Jason also packed and shipped this item carefully and precisely so that it wasn't damaged during transit. He also sent some plexiglass cleaner and a soft microfiber cloth, to make sure that I was using the right products to ensure that this display case stays pristine and beautiful for years to come. I couldn't be happier with the finished results.

I cannot say enough good things about my experience here. I had a unique idea of how to hang my…read moreneedlepoint - and look modern. Jason went out of his way to make sure what we finally ended on looked the way I wanted. I had to hug him I was so happy!