Floods, Fires, and Buried Trains: Immigrant Stories of the Historic West Bottoms
The bustling, often chaotic, West Bottoms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries attracted dreamers of every stripe. Immigrants to Kansas City arrived by trains and horse-drawn conveyances seeking a better life in the fetid air perfumed by the stench of manure, burnt coal, and stale beer from nearby packing houses and saloons.
BALLOT THEFT: BURGLARY, MURDER, COVERUP – Blue Springs South
Gary Jenkins tells the story of how President Harry Truman asked James Pendergast to stop local Fifth District congressman Roger Slaughter from being reelected. The Kansas City Mob rigged the election. When their machinations were discovered, the mob blew a safe, stole the evidence, and then committed murder to cover up their actions.
House History Boot Camp
Join us for a comprehensive course that delves into the art of house history research. We’ll guide you through the wealth of resources available in the Missouri Valley Room and introduce you to digital tools that can be accessed from the comfort of your own home.