Kansas City Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

This is the Folly Theater, another of Kansas City’s historic theaters. But unlike the Newman and Gayety, this one is still standing! NOTE: The tour is over 1.7 miles long, with more than 33 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

In the early 1900s, the Glennon Hotel sat on this same corner. Inside the Glennon, you could shop at a small haberdashery. You might be asking, “Wait, what’s a haberdashery?” Basically, it’s a fancy word for a men’s clothing store. But today, we remember the Glennon Hotel haberdashery for its famous owner… Harry Truman!

This is the Jackson County Courthouse, built in 1934. Notice any resemblance between the courthouse and City Hall? You might, given that the same architecture firm designed both structures!

When Allis took over the Gayety to expand his hotel, Kansas City lost one of its premier jazz clubs. And jazz was very important to the residents of Kansas City!

In the early 1900s, Kansas City residents could take a stroll down 12th Street and visit all three theaters! They could catch a movie at the Newman, see a jazz show at the Gayety, and enjoy a dramatic production at the Folly. You might recognize some of the actors and performers who graced the stage at the Folly: Shirley Booth, Humphrey Bogart, and even the Marx Brothers!

The statue honors one of Missouri’s most famous writers. Twain grew up in the small city of Hannibal, Missouri. Although Twain’s family remained fairly poor, he looked back on his childhood with a great deal of nostalgia.

The bar first opened in 1911, when James Fitzpatrick decided that the Quality Hill neighborhood needed a quality place to have a drink. You’ll recognize the name of Fitzpatrick’s most important business ally… our old friend, Tom Pendergast!

Kansas City’s Garment District was one of the largest in the country, second only to NIn the 1930s, ew York. Dedicated workers bustled through the streets, rushing to various factories where they would sew all manner of shirts, pants, and dresses. During this time, nearly a quarter of all clothing in the United States came from Kansas City. Pretty cool!

In the early 1900s, the Savoy became one of the city’s fanciest steakhouses. Remember the Glennon Hotel, where Harry Truman owned a haberdashery? Well, when Truman got hungry after selling hats and ties, he would walk the few blocks to the Savoy Hotel for lunch. He always sat in Booth No. 4, where he liked to order a well-done steak with light vegetables.

The beautiful brownstone apartment building on our left is the New England Building. It might be hard to believe, but the New England Building was once the tallest building in the whole city! How times have changed!

This stately brick-and-brownstone building is the New York Life Building. When construction finished in 1890, the New York Life Building became Kansas City’s first skyscraper! If you’d like more about the construction of this skyscraper, click Learn More.

That’s the Muse of the Missouri. Kansas City banker James Kemper commissioned this statue in 1962 in honor of his son, who was killed in action while fighting the Nazis during World War II. The statue depicts one of the Greek Muses carrying a fishing net. And, like so many of Kansas City’s statues, it’s also a fountain!

As you admire Kansas City’s second-oldest skyscraper, let me tell you a little more about one of the most famous Confederate bushwhackers in Missouri history: William Anderson, also known as “Bloody Bill.”

Mayor Davis first won election in 1963, in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. One of Davis’ most significant challenges came on April 9th, 1968. Just five days earlier, Martin Luther King Jr. had been murdered in Memphis, Tennessee.