Auditorium (Community of Christ) facts for kids
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The Auditorium
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| Former names | RLDS Auditorium |
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| Location | 1001 W. Walnut, Independence, Missouri |
| Owner | Community of Christ |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Field size | 214 feet (65 m)x 168 feet (51 m); 92 feet (28 m) floor to roof (conference center); 114 feet (35 m) to top of dome |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1926 |
| Opened | 1958 |
| Tenants | |
| Community of Christ | |
The Auditorium is a special building in Independence, Missouri. It is a place of worship and also has offices. The Auditorium is part of the main buildings for the Community of Christ church. This includes the Independence Temple too.
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Building the Auditorium
Building the Auditorium was a very big project. It was inspired by the church's leader, Frederick Madison Smith. Work on the building started in 1926. It was finally finished in 1958. The original plans for the main meeting room were much bigger. Construction almost stopped during the Great Depression. This was a time when the church had a lot of money problems.
The Big Pipe Organ
The Auditorium has a huge pipe organ. It is called an Aeolian-Skinner organ. It has 113 parts and 6,334 pipes! This makes it one of the 75 largest pipe organs in the world. The organ also has extra controls and pipes in the back balcony.
A famous organ player named John Obetz used to play this organ. From 1968 to 1993, he had a weekly radio show called Auditorium Organ. People all over the country could listen to him play.
Events at the Auditorium
The Auditorium is a busy place. Many different events happen there.
Church Conferences
The World Conferences for the church happen here every three years. These are big meetings where church members gather. The main meeting room can hold 5,800 people. This room is about 214 feet long and 168 feet wide. The ceiling of the dome inside is 92 feet high. The outside of the dome rises 114 feet above the street. The first plans for the Auditorium included two balconies, but only one was built because of money.
Music and Awards
Every year, the Auditorium hosts a special concert. The Kansas City Symphony and the Independence Messiah Choir perform Handel's Messiah. This performance is also broadcast for people to hear. The Community of Christ International Peace Award is also given out at ceremonies held in the Auditorium.
Other Important Gatherings
Besides church events, the Auditorium is used for many other things. High schools and colleges hold their graduation ceremonies there. It also hosts cultural events for the Independence and Kansas City areas.
Many important people have spoken at the Auditorium.
- On June 27, 1945, President Harry S. Truman gave a speech there. He was from Independence. During his speech, he announced that the United States had signed the United Nations treaty.
- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke at the Auditorium on July 24, 1998. He talked about the 50th anniversary of the order that ended segregation in the U.S. military.
- In 1999, Jane Goodall, a famous researcher who studies chimpanzees, gave a speech.
- On July 5, 2007, former President Bill Clinton spoke at the Auditorium. He was there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Truman Presidential Library.
