Local history
Browse digital images from the Missouri Valley Special Collections
Visit the Digital Gallery.
Explore Kansas City History on Historypin
An interactive Google map with images from the Missouri Valley Special Collections.
The 93 images from the over 16,000 in the MVSC collection have been pinned to the map with many of them overlaid in the present street view. Be sure to check out the “stories” for more information about the photograph.
Download an app for access “in the moment.”
This Week in Kansas City History
This Week in Kansas City History highlights local history people and events, with links to related special collections materials.
Photographs and More
Search the Digital Gallery for images of photographs, postcards, maps, documents, as well as the Local History Index that has over 38,0000 references or citations to information and resources about the history of the Missouri Valley area.
Biographies
The famous - and infamous - and not so famous but important deceased Kansas Citians are featured in these locally written biographies. Actors and actresses, artists and architects, politicians and philanthropists, sports figures and settlers, criminals and community leaders, and others all either lived or worked in Kansas City at one time. New biographies are added regularly, so check back frequently.
Kansas City FAQs
View frequently asked questions about the Kansas City area.
Kansas City Stories
There are a thousand stories in any city waiting to be told. These eight reminiscences written by Kansas Citians begin our quest for some of these stories. This sampling comes from participants in the Kansas City Stories project where they learned how to craft their memories into true stories by professional writer and writing coach Michael Humphrey in the Spring of 2008.
Local History on the Internet
Follow the annotated links to Kansas City area general, specialized, and county histories. Area archives, libraries, historical societies, etc. is a separate list.
For more current city links see the Library's Resources by Topic for Kansas City government related sites and area organizations, groups, and information for new residents.
Newspapers & Clips
Learn more about the extensive collection of newspapers & clips, one of the unique resources in the Missouri Valley Room selectively chosen from Kansas City's major metropolitan dailies of the twentieth century. These cover topics of local and regional interest. Arranged by subject, articles can be searched in the 43-volume index. These are not available online.
