Bartle Hall Pylons facts for kids
The Bartle Hall Pylons are four tall, strong towers made of concrete and steel. You can find them in Kansas City, Missouri. These huge structures hold up the Bartle Hall Convention Center. They lift it high above busy roads like Truman Road and Interstate 670. Each pylon is about 335 feet (102 meters) tall. On top of each pylon is a unique sculpture. These sculptures are a famous part of the city's skyline.
The Sky Stations
The cool sculptures on top of the Bartle Hall pylons are called "Sky Stations." An artist named R.M. Fischer designed them in 1994. Each sculpture is made from aluminum and steel. They are about 24 by 15 feet wide and 20 by 25 feet tall.
The artist got his ideas for the Sky Stations from the 1930s. He was inspired by the fancy Art Deco chandeliers and decorations. You can see these designs inside the Municipal Auditorium. This building is right next to Bartle Hall.
Getting the Sky Stations onto the top of each tower was a big job! They had to use a helicopter to lift them into place.
In 2015, one of the eastern Sky Stations was damaged by lightning. It had to be taken down for repairs on May 8, 2016. The repair project cost $1.6 million. Most of this cost was covered by insurance. The fixed Sky Station was put back on September 18, 2016. As part of the repair, electricians added 50 new LED lights. These lights now shine brightly in the downtown sky!
Gallery
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The pylons suspend Bartle Hall above Truman Road and Interstate I-670
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Pylons viewed from W. 12th Street
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A sculpture
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A sculpture
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A sculpture
Images for kids
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The Center stretches across Interstate 670 in Kansas City.
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The Center expansion, viewed from 16th Street.
