Kansas City African American Museums and Attractions

American Jazz Museum

1616 E 18th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

816.474.8463

Part of the Museums at 18th and Vine, the sights and sounds of jazz come alive at the first museum in the country devoted exclusively to this uniquely American art form.  The museum’s interactive exhibits tell the story of “Amerca classical music” in an entertaining and educational format.

The Blue Room

1600 E 18th Street, Kansas City, MO

816.471.2929

Part of the American Jazz Museum by day, the Blue Room transforms into a working jazz club at night.  Top local and national musicians take the stage four nights a week in this nonsmoking venue.

Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center and Museum

3700 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, MO 

816.513.0700

This museum stands in tribute to the artistic, cultural and social history of Kansas City’s early African-American pioneers.  The center is named in honor of Bruce R. Watkins, a political and social activist.  It includes a permanent exhibit space, a children’s workspace, a library, an auditorium and two art galleries.  Admission is free.

Gem Theater

1615 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 

816.474.6262 (ticket office)

The historic theater was orginally opened as a movie house in 1912 and quickly became the center of social and cultural activity for the 18th and Vine community.  The reconstructed Gem Theater is a 500 seat performance venue for local, national, and international artists.

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey

816.471.6003

Kansas City is the official second home of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  Each year Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey offers an action-packed schedule of events.  For more than 20 years, KCFAA has played a social role, using the beauty and humanity of the African American heritage and other cultures to unite people of all ages and backgrounds.

Mutual Musicians Foundation

1823 Highland Ave

Kansas City, MO

816.471.5212

For decades the foundation has been the after-hours meeting place for jazz musicians.  It began as the Black Musicians Union Local 627 in 1904.  It was later renamed Mutual Musicians Foundation and moved to its present location in 1930.  It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1982.  Late-night jam sessions are held Friday and Saturday night starting at midnight.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

1616 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO

816.221.1920

Part of the Museums at 18th and Vine, the museum offers a glimpse into the history of black baseball prior to 1947, when the color barrier in professional baseball was broken with the signing of Kansas City Monarchs shortstop Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Video presentations, exhibits and memorabilia tell the stories of the history and heroes of the leagues from their origin after the Civil War to their demise in the 1960s.

Swope Park/Kansas City Zoo

Meyer Blvd and Swop Pkwy, Kansas City, MO

With almost 1,800 acres, Swope Park is one of the nation’s largest urban parks.  It includes a public swimming pool, picnic shelters, the Kansas City Zoo, Swope Memorial Golf Course, Blue River Golf Course, Lakeside Nature Center and Starlight Theatre.  Celebrating its 100th year in 2009, the Kansas City Zoo offers visitors the unique experience of seeing more than 900 animals in naturalistic settings.  The Zoo’s exhibits are organized by content with major sections for Africa and Australia.

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