The Kansas City Museum of History and Science

From wonderful historical displays to the hands-on Challenger Learning Center, this museum has it all. Touch a tornado in Weather Park, visit the planetarium, or watch the latest astronomical event from the front lawn. Believe it or not, the building now housing this fine museum was once a private residence! Lumber-baron Robert A. Long built this 70-room mansion in 1910 at a cost of $750,000. The Kansas City Museum of History and Science is now on-line, so pay them a visit!

 

 

 

North Terrace Park & Cliff Drive

When the plan for North Terrace Park was first submitted to the Board of Park Commissioners by Landscape Architect George E. Kessler in 1893, one of the main objectives was to retain as much of the land's natural beauty as possible. Although those that opposed the park derided the area's steep and rocky landscape as "a squirrel pasture" that was "too rugged for a goat to climb," a great majority of Kansas Citians favored the plan. North Terrace Park was to be linked with other parks by a system of broad boulevards, one of which would be Gladstone Boulevard. From 1899 to 1920, nine tracts were acquired, bringing the total area of North Terrace Park to over 282 acres, costing $1,031,845.94. The park's focal point was, and is, Cliff Drive. The drive was intended for leisurely carriage rides through the rugged landscape. The following description of Cliff Drive comes from a 1914 brochure published by the Kansas City Park's Department called, "The Park and Boulevard System of Kansas City, with itineraries for one, two and three hour trips for visitors to Kansas City."

"Cliff Drive - the drive that has made Kansas City's park and boulevard system famous - meanders through the park for its entire length and, when completed to Indian Mound, will be, with its approaches, 5.98 miles in length. The first 0.46 miles of this drive was completed in 1900. When all the drives in this park, as planned, are completed, there will be 7.91 miles of the most picturesque drives in this country, every foot of which will be a surprise and a delight to the visitor, and a pride to the resident of the City."