Kansas City is a Midwestern city, filled with both old and new culture. Visitors to Kansas City are greeted by a bustling city, flourishing with art and entertainment, attractions and shops.
The history of Kansas City dates back to 1821, the year that Missouri became a state in the Union. It started out being named Westport, and the name wasn't changed to Kansas City until 1889. During the early 1900's, Kansas City was one of the centers of the cattle industry, and although the famous Kansas City Stockyards closed in 1991, the city owes much of its success and history to the livestock industry.
Today's Kansas City is much more than farmland and cattle. Located in an area of bustling growth, suburbs filled with shopping centers, attractions and restaurants surround the downtown area. The downtown area includes historic hotels that provide a glimpse back to the city's past, combined with fine dining establishments and contemporary clubs, shopping venues, museums and art culture.
Kansas City has a rich musical history, being the "cradle" of Kansas City Jazz, which is a transitional style of jazz known for its blues-based swing style of music. Many of the jazz greats got their start in Kansas City clubs in the early 1920's. Jazz thrived throughout the 1930's, and flourished even through the Depression era. Today, this heritage lives on in the many local clubs, which feature jazz on a regular basis. Kansas City is also home to the American Jazz Museum.
Kansas City restaurants are famous for steak and barbecue. Classic Kansas City-style barbeque has been a local favorite since the early 1900's, and during the days of the Kansas City Stockyards, the city became famous for its Kansas City strip steaks. These local favorites are enjoyed by local residents and visitors alike.
The Kansas City area has a long history of sports teams, which continues today. Home to the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football team, and the Kansas City Royals baseball team, sporting events are popular attractions at Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums. Kansas City also has World Team tennis and Major League soccer teams. Kansas City also hosts Big 12 basketball tournaments on a regular basis.
In addition to the Kansas City Jazz Museum, the city boasts a number of other museums as well. These include several art museums, such as the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. The city is also home to the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, the Airline History Museum, the Arabia Steamboat Museum, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, among others.
Shoppers love Kansas City because of its wide array of malls and stores, ranging from discount outlets and major department stores to boutiques and specialty retailers. It is home to the Oak Park Mall, which features 187 stores contained in one indoor shopping center, and the Country Club Plaza shopping, entertainment and dining district, among many others.
Whether you are a sports fan, arts enthusiast, history buff or food connoisseur, there is something for all travelers to enjoy in Kansas City.
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