Events

Everyone knows of George Washington; few of us know much about his education, businesses, and day-to-day life. Through paintings, photos, and iconic objects from Mount Vernon this exhibit takes a multi-dimensional look at the man behind the many myths.

The exhibit was created by George Washington’s Mount Vernon in conjunction with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and was made possible by a generous grant from the F.M. Kirby Foundation.

In the pre-digital era before cell phones, satellites, and the Internet allowed travelers to instantly transmit their photos and comments to family and friends, Americans relied on “snail mail” and the picture postcard.

This exhibit gathers more than 200 examples of Kansas City postcards from the ‘30s and ‘40s. The cards – featuring images of landmarks, hotels, parks, and public buildings - have been drawn from the Mrs. Sam Ray Postcard Collection in the holdings of the Library’s Missouri Valley Special Collections.

Established in 1874, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department has for 138 years protected our citizens while keeping abreast of changes in criminology, transportation, technology, and society. This long and colorful history is examined in a new exhibit, Kansas City’s Finest.

The newest exhibition of the Orval Hixon Gallery, New Compositions: The Dance Portraiture of Orval Hixon, is on display from June 11, 2011 through 2013 at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St. The exhibit features a rich selection of Hixon’s portraits, including images of some of the best-known dancers of his time.

Xbox360 and Wii game consoles are available at TeenGaming along with board games such as Chess and Monopoly. It’s about having fun with your friends and making new friends. Stop by and bring your games to share with Southeast teens.

Join us for our monthly book club meeting and bring any book that you have read recently! We have free snacks, and copies of the current month’s book are available at the desk. We want to know what you are reading! See Megan for details.

KC native Robert Altman returned home to film this drama set in our city's rip-roaring 1930s. A dumb blonde (Jennifer Jason-Leigh) kidnaps a rich Ward Parkway lady (Miranda Richardson), hoping to trade her for her petty crook husband, a captive of the black gangster Seldom Seen (Harry Belafonte).

The film is particularly noteworthy for its recreation of the KC jazz scene.

Kansas City is one of three films set in Kansas City that complement the Library’s upcoming exhibit of vintage Kansas City post cards.