Kansas City City Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kansas City City Hall |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | City hall |
| Location | 414 East 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 39°06′02″N 94°34′41″W / 39.100569°N 94.577997°W |
| Construction started | 1935 |
| Completed | 1937 |
| Owner | City of Kansas City |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 158.5 m (520 ft) |
| Roof | 151.1 m (496 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 30 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Wight and Wight |
| Main contractor | Swenson Construction Company |
The Kansas City City Hall is a very important building in Kansas City, Missouri. It's where the city's government works and makes decisions for everyone. This tall building, finished in 1937, has 29 floors and even an observation deck! It looks special with its Beaux-Arts and Art-Deco styles.
Contents
History of the Kansas City City Hall
This impressive 29-story building was designed by the architects Wight and Wight. It was built to replace an older city hall. This is actually the third city hall Kansas City has had since it became a city in 1853.
Building the City Hall took about 22 months. The concrete used for construction was supplied by a person named Tom Pendergast. Since 1937, this building has been the main place for the city's government.
When it was first finished, the Kansas City City Hall was the tallest building in the city. Today, it is the third-tallest building there. It's also one of the tallest city halls in the entire United States! The outside of the building is made from Indiana limestone. Inside, you can see beautiful types of marble from places like France, Italy, and Vermont. Wood like oak and walnut were also used. The building cost about $6 million to build.
Cool Features of the City Hall
Inside the Building
The City Hall is famous for its Art-Deco style and cool decorations. You can see these details everywhere inside. When you walk in, you'll notice fancy marble stairways. There are also bronze decorations that show the history of Kansas City.
Look closely at the details! The elevator doors have sculptures of the four main ways people travel in Kansas City. The lobby and other areas have amazing light fixtures. Even the doorknobs have special custom brass plates.
Outside the Building
On the outside, above the first six floors, you'll see a special band of sculptures. These sculptures show how the Kansas City area was first settled and grew over time. Famous artists like C. Paul Jennewein, Ulric Ellerhusen, and Walker Hancock created these sculptures. They include important people and events like Senator Thomas Hart Benton, Benoist Troost, Kersey Coates, the Lewis and Clark journey, the Chouteau trading post, and the Santa Fe Trail.
To the south of the building, there are fountains with two decorative seahorses, dolphins, and seashells. City employees gave the seahorses fun names: "Lug" (on the west side) and "Cut" (on the east side). You can also find a statue of Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad, created by the artist Lorenzo Ghiglieri.
The very top floor of the building has an observation deck. You can visit it for free to see amazing views of the city, as long as the weather is good and security allows.
