Kansas City Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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R. A. Long House
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The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3218 Gladstone Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri |
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| Area | 3-acre (12,000 m2) |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Henry F. Hoit |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002366 |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1980 |
The Kansas City Museum is a cool place to visit in Kansas City, Missouri. It's inside a beautiful old mansion called Corinthian Hall.
This amazing building was once the private home of Robert A. Long, a very successful lumber businessman. He built it for his family in 1910.
Later, in 1940, Long's family gave the mansion to the public. It then opened as a museum for everyone to enjoy. After many years, the museum started big renovations to make it even better.
The Museum's Early Days
The museum sits on a 3-acre (12,000 m2) estate. The main building, Corinthian Hall, is named for its fancy Corinthian columns.
Robert A. Long and his family moved into this huge house in 1910. It cost about $1 million to build back then! That would be a lot more money today.
Local architect Henry F. Hoit designed the mansion. It has four stories and is about 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) big. The family lived there until Robert A. Long passed away in 1934.
After Mr. Long's death, the house was mostly empty. His daughters later donated the estate to the Kansas City Museum Association in 1939. It officially opened as a history and science museum in 1940.
In 1948, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, took over managing the museum.
Exploring Natural History
In the 1950s, the museum became famous for its natural history exhibits. They had many displays of stuffed animals, showing them in their natural homes. These were called dioramas.
The museum also had exhibits of rocks, minerals, and fossils. You could even take classes to learn about taxidermy, which is the art of preserving animals.
During this time, the museum was very popular. It even had a small planetarium where you could learn about space. There was also an old-fashioned soda fountain that served tasty drinks and ice cream.
Modern Changes and Renovations
By the 1970s, the museum staff realized the building was getting too small. They started thinking about new ways to show local history and science. They even thought about moving some exhibits to Union Station.
From 2005 to 2013, another group helped manage the museum. Then, in 2008, the main buildings closed for big repairs. They fixed the roof, walls, windows, and added new heating and cooling systems.
Since May 2014, the City of Kansas City and its Parks and Recreation Department have been in charge. They continue to run and improve the Kansas City Museum for everyone to enjoy.
