The J.C. Nichols Fountain
by yooperprof
Kansas City prides itself on its fountains, which are said to be more numerous here than anywhere else in the world. Well, I don't know about that, but there are plenty.
J.C. Nichols was the 1920s developer who created the Country Club Plaza, as well as numerous residential neighborhoods to the south and west. (I grew up in a J.C. Nichols development nearby.) He had traveled in Europe - specifically, in Spain - before World War I, and wanted to create something "of lasting value" in K.C. He spent millions on the Plaza and other projects, and was especially interested in fountains and statuary. The Nichols Fountain is at the northeast corner of the intersection of 47th Street (Cleaver Boulevard) and J.C. Nichols Parkway, just to the east of the Plaza.
From the official "Fountains of Kansas City" webpage: "This fountain is the best-known and most-photographed of all of the city's fountains. It is located at the east entrance to the popular Plaza district. The sculptures were created in the early 1900's and adorned the Mansion of Clarence Mackay in Long Island, NY. The fountain was transported to Kansas City, refurbished and dedicated in 1960. The J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain has four equestrian fugues which are said to represent four rivers: the Mississippi River (the one with the Indian riding the horse and beating off an alligator), the Volga River (with the bear), the Seine and the Rhine. Children in the Kansas City area contributed more than $50,000 to the J. C. Nichols Fountain on the Plaza. . ."
http://www.kcfountains.org/index.html
Cabela's in Kansas City
by AlbuqRay
Cabela's is a sports equipment retailer that is known mostly for their catalog sales. They also have a few retail stores. One is located outside Kansas City. In addition to offering outdoor sports merchandise there, the 180,000 square foot showroom has educational and entertainment attractions, including museum-quality animal displays, a freshwater fish aquarium and wildlife exhibits with trophy animals interacting in re-creations of their natural habitats. There is even an archery shooting range. If you go, don't miss the Bargain Cave in the back; however, you might want to take a pass on the restaurant. I don't hunt but I do fish; still this is a fascinating place to visit. Kids love this place (especially the safari shooting gallery) and it is free! Well, it's free if you resist buying anything. If you cannot find any sports equipment you want at Cabela's, I would be very surprised.
Historic Firestone Store
by AlbuqRay
There is an interesting building with covered parking on the northeast corner of Linwood Blvd. and Troost Avenue (Linwood is essentially 32nd). It opened in 1930 as a Firestone Store designed by the architect, Charles A. Smith and a little later survived a large fire.
Before that, the location (which was on the corner north of the Elesmere family hotel) was also near the site of the fine home of Alexander G. Sutherland, which was listed in the 1905 city directory as 3125 Troost. Now it is the home of Best Deal and in the summertime, it hosts the Troost Community Market which combines fresh produce, crafts, and activities with fashion shows and music.
The 3125 Troost address had had a prestigous owner before. He was the richest man ever to live in Kansas City, Lamon Harkness or L. V. Harkness, who lived in Kansas City from 1888 to 1891 in "a brownstone mansion on Linwood Boulevard east of Troost Avenue. Upon his death in 1915 he left an estate of $150 million dollars, garnered from Standard Oil money." There are many neat old buildings in this area of Kansas City, if they could only tell us what they know.
The Bingham_Waggoner Estate is...
by brdwtchr
The Bingham_Waggoner Estate is right across the street from the Frontier Trail center in Independence. This picture is actually the carriage house. I took a photo of it because it is bigger and nicer than a house I once lived in. The actual mansion is huge. In a park in back of the house are 'swales'. Swales are rutted out low spots from places wagons once crossed on the Oregon Trail. They are some what difficult to spot. You notice them but at first don't realize what they are.
Best Brunch in
by imlikeabird about First Watch
First Watch is a chain, and it has the best brunch in all the city. It is a very casual atmosphere and reasonable prices, but the food is extraordinary. Beware of Sunday mornings after church, the lines can be very long! Eggs Benedict
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This is the view traveling west on Southwest Blvd.
Such a long way to go just to die
Look for This
Night view of the free museum signage
