Western Union Telegraph Building, Kansas City, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kansas City, Missouri Western Union Telegraph Building
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100-114 E. 7th St., Kansas City, Missouri |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1920 |
| Architect | Smith, Charles A.; Van Sant, J.R., Construction Co. |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000010 |
| Added to NRHP | February 12, 2003 |
The Western Union Telegraph Building in Kansas City, Missouri, is an old telecommunications building from 1920. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This list includes important places in American history.
Contents
What is the Western Union Building?
This building used to be a main center for Western Union messages. Western Union was a very important company for sending telegrams. Telegrams were like text messages before phones were common. The building helped connect people across the country.
A Look at Its History
Western Union started its work in Kansas City in 1865. This was a time when communication was changing fast. In 1915, the company decided to build a new, bigger office. They needed a central place for all their messages.
Construction on the building began in 1919. It was finished and opened its doors in 1920. For many years, this building was a busy hub. Western Union sent and received messages here until the late 1970s.
The building was recognized as a historic place on February 12, 2003. This means it is important to American history. In 2014, a technology company called The Nerdery moved into the building. It continues to be a place of innovation.
How Was the Building Designed?
The Western Union building is four stories tall. It is built in a style called Commercial style. This style was popular for business buildings. The building is made of concrete. It has a covering of bricks on the outside.
The bricks on the bottom two floors are brown. The bricks on the top two floors are red. This gives the building a unique look. The sides of the building facing Walnut Street and 7th Street have many windows. These are called "bays."
Below the roofline, there is a special sign. This sign is made of terra cotta. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay. The sign clearly reads "WESTERN UNION." This shows everyone what the building was used for.
Images for kids
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The Western Union Telegraph Building in Kansas City.
