Kansas City, MO history: 18 places and what used to be there

18places

23businesses

1867oldest

5still open

18gone

6with photos

Kansas City on When It Was is 18 addresses and the 23 businesses that have occupied them, the oldest from 1867. 5 are still open today; 18 are gone, and 9 of the buildings themselves have been demolished. Every entry below opens a page with the full history of that address, and the map lets you slide the year and watch the city change.

Start here

Kansas City, decade by decade

1860s
2 opened — Coates House Hotel, Emery, Bird, Thayer Department Store See the map in 1865 →
1880s
2 opened — Kansas City Club, Savoy Hotel and Grill See the map in 1885 →
1890s
1 opened — Convention Hall See the map in 1895 →
1900s
1 opened — Electric Park See the map in 1905 →
1910s
3 opened — Muehlebach Hotel, Newman Theatre, Kansas City Union Station See the map in 1915 →
1920s
4 opened — Fairyland Park, Midland Theatre, Municipal Stadium, Pla-Mor Ballroom See the map in 1925 →
1930s
4 opened — Italian Gardens, Reno Club, Katz Drug Store (Main & Westport), Hey Hay Club See the map in 1935 →
1940s
1 opened — Kelly's Westport Inn See the map in 1945 →
1950s
3 opened — TWA Corporate Headquarters Building, Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (Original Location), Jewel Box Lounge See the map in 1955 →
1970s
1 opened — Metro North Mall See the map in 1975 →
1980s
1 opened — Hyatt Regency Kansas City (Crown Center)See the map in 1985 →

Still here, and gone

Still open (5)

Kansas City Union Station 1914–present
Midland Theatre 1927–present
Kelly's Westport Inn 1947–present
Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (Original Location) 1958–present
Hyatt Regency Kansas City (Crown Center) 1980–present

Gone (18)

Kansas City Club 1882–2015
Savoy Hotel and Grill 1888–2014
Metro North Mall 1976–2014
Katz Drug Store (Main & Westport) 1934–2006
Italian Gardens 1933–2003
Muehlebach Hotel 1915–1996
Jewel Box Lounge 1958–1982
Coates House Hotel 1868–1978
Fairyland Park 1923–1977
Municipal Stadium 1923–1972
TWA Corporate Headquarters Building 1956–1969
Newman Theatre 1919–1969

By kind of place

Hotel (3)

Muehlebach Hotel · Hyatt Regency Kansas City (Crown Center) · Coates House Hotel

Amusement Park (2)

Fairyland Park · Electric Park

Restaurant (2)

Italian Gardens · Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (Original Location)

Theater (2)

Midland Theatre · Newman Theatre

Private Club (1)

Kansas City Club

Office Building (1)

TWA Corporate Headquarters Building

Jazz Club (1)

Reno Club

Hotel/Restaurant (1)

Savoy Hotel and Grill

Every place in Kansas City (18)

Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (Original Location) 2201 Brooklyn Avenue · 1958–present · 2 businesses
Coates House Hotel 1005 Broadway · 1868–1978
Convention Hall 1301 Central Street · 1899–1936
Electric Park 4600 The Paseo · 1907–1925
Emery, Bird, Thayer Department Store 1016 Grand Boulevard · 1867–1968
Fairyland Park 7501 Prospect Avenue · 1923–1977
Hey Hay Club 405 East 15th Street · 1932–1935
Hyatt Regency Kansas City (Crown Center) 2345 McGee Street · 1980–present
Jewel Box Lounge 3219 Troost Avenue · 1958–1982
Kansas City Club 1110 Baltimore Avenue · 1882–2015 · 3 businesses
Kansas City Union Station 30 West Pershing Road · 1914–present
Katz Drug Store (Main & Westport) 3142 Main Street · 1934–2006 · 2 businesses
Kelly's Westport Inn 500 Westport Road · 1947–present
Metro North Mall 400 NW Barry Road · 1976–2014
Midland Theatre 1114 Main Street · 1927–present · 2 businesses
Muehlebach Hotel 1213 Wyandotte Street · 1915–1996
Reno Club 602 East 12th Street · 1931–1939
Savoy Hotel and Grill 219 West 9th Street · 1888–2014

Know Kansas City? Add a place we’re missing, an old photo, or a correction — it takes a minute on the map.

Add a place in Kansas City