Local history & genealogy

The Missouri Valley Special Collections (MVSC) consist of the non-circulating local history and genealogy resources of the Kansas City Public Library as well as the Library’s archives. More...

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American Legion Fountain, 9th & Main Street

Photographs, Maps, and More

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Digital Gallery

The Digital Gallery features images of material from the Missouri Valley Special Collections.

The Local History Index collection in the Digital Gallery—with more than 36,000 entries—provides information and references to articles in magazines, newspapers, and books on topics of interest from the Missouri Valley area.

This Week in Kansas City History

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Tripping the Light Fantastic, and Then Some

Postcard view of the second Electric  Park

May 19, 1907: More than 53,000 people attend the opening day of the newly relocated Electric Park at 46th and The Paseo, which features a bowling alley, Living Statuary, bandstand, alligator farm, swimming pool, dance pavilion, and a roller coaster. 

Missouri Valley Sundays

  

The Coon-Sanders Nighthawk Orchestra - Chuck Haddix
April 21, 2013 at 2 p.m.
Central Library
RSVP now!

UMKC jazz expert Chuck Haddix follows the rise and fall of the band that had hit recordings like “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby,” “When You’re Smiling,” “The Flippity Flop,” “Kansas City Kitty,” “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “Harlem Madness,” and “What A Girl! What A Night!”