The KC Dev Report: Episode #6 The Kansas City Museum Show Notes

Kansas City Museum/Corinthian Hall

Where is it located? 3218 Gladstone Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64123 (4th District) Represented by Fourth District Councilman Eric Bunch Historic Northeast

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Scarritt Neighborhood Association

130,010.444 sq ft. 2.9 Acres

Who owns it now? The Kansas City Museum property is owned by the City of Kansas City, . Its operated and managed by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department.

It is also governed, managed, and operated by Kansas City Museum Foundation, a 501 (c )(3) nonprofit organization

When was built? 1911

Who was the original owner? Robert Alexandewr Long who was the owner of the Long-Bell Lumber Company which was incorporated in 1884. He was an early American Lumber baron, developer, investor, newspaper owner, and philanthropists.

Who designed it? It was designed by local architect Henry F. Hoit. Originally a four-story 35,000-square-foot mansion for the Long family until R.A. Long's death in 1934

The private estate featured six buildings all designed by architect Henry Hoit

How much did it cost to build? Its estimated to cost $1 Million dollars to build (Would be $32 Million in today)

How did it become a museum? Robert Longs daughters donated the estate to the Kansas City Museum Association in 1939. In 1940 it was opened to the public as a history and science museum. The Museum was deeded to the City of Kansas City, Missouri in 1948

What does the museum show or display? In the 1950's and 70's The Museum is mainly showing natural history. Things like taxidermy specimens, fossils, rocks, minerals, and even stuffed animals. The Museum had diorams which or small models that show or represents scenes with three dimensional figures that was used in presentations and classes. It also had a 50 seat planetarium.

The Museum collects, preserves, and interprets Kansas City's local and regional history. The Collection contains more than 100,000 objects in subgroups including an archive of film, photographs, manuscripts. The Dyer Native American collection of cultural and historical objects; a large clothing, accessories, and textiles collection; a small fine arts collection of paintings by artists of local subjects; a transportation collection including rail cars and carriages; a collection of firefighting objects from the Kansas City Fire Historical Society; decorative arts including a selection of original furnishings from Corinthian Hall

From 2005 until December 2013 the museum was managed by Union Station Kansas City, Inc., the same organization that maintains Kansas City's Union Station...... (Science City Connection???)

In January 2008, the primary buildings of the museum—the residence and carriage house— closed for major renovations.

In May 2014, the City of Kansas City and Missouri's Parks and Recreation Department began to operate and manage the Kansas City Museum

Whats happening now?

Kansas City Museum Foundation raised private funds through Making A Museum KC https://www.makingamuseumkc.org/

The $22 million renovation of Corinthian Hall has transformed the hall from an early 1900s look to a modern museum. $8 million came from general obligation (GO) bonds $8 million came from the Museum Mill Levy $6 million came from private donations

Renovation Notes & Details

Stage I The restoration and renovation of Corinthian Hall (The mansion).

Stages II & III include the restoration and renovation of the Carriage House, Caretaker’s House, Conservatory, Pergola, Carpenter’s Shed, and Perimeter Fence and Gates.

In April 2015, International Architects Atelier (IAA) began comprehensive Master Planning for the entire property and Architectural Design Planning for Stage I Corinthian Hall. Retired City Architect for the City of Kansas City, Missouri Eric Bosch was also integral to the project team.

In November 2017, JE Dunn Construction began construction on Stage I. (The Mansion) which includes the restoration and renovation of the lower level, first floor, second floor, and third floor of Corinthian Hall to be open to the public in 2021.

The lower level of Corinthian Hall will include a restored billiard room, a new interpretation of the Museum’s former, beloved “Soda Fountain,” interpretive content and displays, a prep kitchen, catering kitchen, public restrooms, and spaces for administrative functions.

The first floor of Corinthian Hall will include rooms that will be used for education programs and events, exhibits, and contemporary thematic art installations. The first floor will also have a retail store, as well as a cafe with a service kitchen and a demonstration kitchen.

The second floor of Corinthian Hall will include five exhibition galleries that showcase historical materials from the Museum’s permanent collections and items on loan, a meeting room/education classroom space for school programs and community meetings, and contemporary thematic art installations.

The third floor of Corinthian Hall will include three exhibition galleries that showcase historical materials from the Museum’s permanent collections and items on loan, a 42-seat auditorium/theater to showcase films and videos, a story sharing space, and contemporary thematic art installations.

The restoration and renovation of Corinthian Hall is complete. Currently, history- and humanities-based exhibits are being finalized for fabrication and installation into Corinthian Hall to create a dynamic experience for the reopening in fall 2021.

Grand Opening Event

Saturday, September 4, 2021 3:00 to 7:00 PM *2:00 PM for Sponsors + VIP Tickets Kansas City Museum Historic Grounds click here to purchase

The Derby Party 2021: A Grand Reopening Celebration is a themed fundraiser hosted by the Kansas City Museum Foundation to benefit the Kansas City Museum.

This year’s Derby Party coincides with the museum’s reopening. Enjoy being one of the first to experience the newly restored and renovated Corinthian Hall.

http://kansascitymuseum.org/

Fun Facts

Corinthian Hall or The Kansas City Museum was Kansas City's first million-dollar home

In 1907 Long-Bell built the first "skyscraper" in Kansas City, named the R.A. Long Building, for the company corporate headquarters. At 16 stories tall, costing a reported 14 million dollars.[4][5] The building was bought in 1940 by City National Bank & Trust Company. (928 Grand)

Henry F. Hoit the architect who designed what is now the Kansas City Museum also designed The Kansas City Power and Light Building at 1330 Baltimore which was completed in 1930.

That building would be Missouri's tallest habitable structure from 1931 until the completion of One U.S. Bank Plaza in St. Louis in 1976

Architect Henry F. Hoit of Hoit, Price and Barnes also designed The Longview Farm in Lees Summit Missouri for Robert Long in 1913