French fur traders who arrived along the Missouri River and erected spartan cottages along the river in the early 1800s are thought to be the originators of Kansas City. When the town was built in 1838, a trail running from the river landing to Westport was created. Along the river bluffs, business buildings started to sprout. The Battle of Westport was fought in Loose Park and Forest Hill Cemetery during the tumultuous and violent years preceding the Civil War. As a result of the Union's favoritism, the city was divided, with Northerners residing on the east side of Main Street and Southerners on the west. A downtown street grid had been created by 1870. Enjoy the city’s diverse attractions and experiences, making it an unforgettable destination by booking DTW flights to Kansas City.
Early Years in Kansas City
Railways were finished and the first bridge over the Missouri River was built after the Civil War, which led to a population explosion in the West Bottoms. The wealthy constructed Mansions on Quality Hill, while trade and the developing cattle business were centered at the City Market at 4th and Walnut.
The boom in construction and prosperity
The Board of Trade Building and Convention Hall were among the famous structures built in Kansas City during the late 19th-century development boom. The city, which had more cable roads than any other city save San Francisco and Chicago, attracted architectural firms from New York, Chicago, and Boston to open offices there. After the 1884 City Beautiful Movement, George Kessler created the parks and boulevards system by 1895, enabling wealthy business owners to construct homes in well-liked neighborhoods.
The R.A. Long Building, Scarritt Building, and Commerce Bank were just a few of the contemporary skyscrapers constructed in Kansas City in 1906. The city opened Electric Park, a lavish amusement park, in 1907. The city's southward expansion in 1909 resulted in the construction of new homes, businesses, roadways, and boulevards. Swope Park saw the debut of the Kansas City Zoo, while the Boley Building showcased the first 'curtain wall' style. While wealthier people constructed the County Club District and planned commercial centers for these midtown residential neighborhoods, working-class residents relocated to neighborhoods with bungalows and straightforward four-square homes.
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The 1920s
The city saw tremendous business and residential growth in the 1920s, with buildings like the President Hotel and the Professional Building standing out. Burlesque was replaced by going to the movies, which prompted the creation of theatres and other amusement centers like Fairyland Park as the city grew southward.
The Country Club Plaza was the world's first planned suburban retail center, created by Edward Buehler Delk and J.C. Nichols, and it featured petrol stations and free parking to draw customers in their cars. It became a well-liked venue and held its first yearly Christmas light display in 1925, serving the Country Club District and Midtown neighborhoods.
The 1930s
Kansas City was the epicenter of jazz and baseball in the 1930s, and musicians frequented the nightclubs on 12th Street and 18th and Vine. With renowned venues like Blues Stadium for the Negro National League and the Mutual Musicians Foundation, the segregated 18th and Vine neighborhood served as a center for jazz and baseball. With the help of Mayor Tom Pendergast's 10-Year Plan, Kansas City grew during the Great Depression and was able to afford big building projects including the 29-story City Hall. However, due to low tax rates and high corruption, the city acquired a bad reputation for vices during Pendergast's administration.
Modern Times and After World War II Suburban Development
The White middle class moved to suburban regions like Prairie Village in the 1950s and 1960s after Kansas City annexed more property to the south in 1947. Blockbusting, redlining, unfair housing and lending rules, and other practices contribute to the pattern of white flight and disinvestment in the areas east of Troost. As a result of these measures, the metro area has continued to grow southward into suburban sprawl and the suffering neighborhoods east of Troost are still visible in the city today. With popular locations like the Crossroads Arts District and City Market, the city has made strides in the previous 20 years in locating businesses and inhabitants downtown, aiding in regeneration.
In the last ten years, Kansas City has advanced significantly, winning praise from around the world for its urban renewal and business. Commerce has been helped by the Power and Light District and Sprint Centre in the city's downtown, and the Bloch addition to the Kauffman Centre for the Performing Arts and Nelson Atkins Museum of Art has received accolades. If you want to know more about Kansas City then book a flight from Detroit to Kansas City.