Local History Blog
How did Kansas City become Barbecue City, USA? KCQ cooks up a delicious tale
When you think of Kansas City, you think of a – perhaps the – barbecue capital of the world. No matter the event, there’s a strong likelihood it will be marked by a backyard barbecue. This is especially true on the Fourth of July. For this…
KCQ Rapid Response Round
For this installment of “What’s Your KCQ?,” the joint project of the Kansas City Public Library and The Kansas City Star, Missouri Valley Special Collections staff tackle a variety of Kansas City history questions. What’s the small projection on…
Pleasure Boating on the Blue River? KCQ Navigates This Interesting History
At the turn of the 20th century, Kansas Citians seeking respite from urban life had only to travel a short distance east to enjoy camping, floating, and fishing at a popular recreational destination, the Blue River. Yes, that Blue River – the now…
Remember the Giralda Tower Bells? KCQ Wants to Know
We need your help with this one. When construction ended in 1967, the Giralda Tower became the tallest structure on the Country Club Plaza. A smaller version of the more than 800-year-old Giralda tower in Seville, Spain, it included a carillon of…
Kansas City vs. North Kansas City: 1940s political tussle for (more) space on the map
Meet the humble Kansas City woman who wrote WWII poem ‘heard ’round the world’
It was a hot June night in 1943, and Frances Angermayer could not sleep. So, she arose after midnight, went to her typewriter, and—in twenty minutes—wrote what was to become the most famous poem of World War II. This week’s “What’s Your KC Q?”…
Early Baseball “Cranks” and “Fans” - KCQ Touches All the Bases in This Investigation
With the Major League Baseball season underway and the Royals faithful cheering on their boys in blue, it is fitting for What’s Your KCQ? to get a curveball about a possible KC connection regarding the origin of baseball “fans.” While flipping…
KCQ Investigates Admiral Boulevard
As Kansas City was growing up in the late 19th century, its leaders recognized the need for respite from the hubbub of urban life. They set aside green spaces, the parks that would become an identifying feature of the city, and built wide,…
KCQ Investigates the Willows
An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 babies were delivered inside The Willows’ gates during its 64 years in operation. To this day, it’s one of Kansas City’s best kept secrets: An apartment complex now sits at 2929 Main Street, sprawled out between a…
KCQ Investigates Petticoat Lane
Standing at 11th and Main streets downtown is a peculiar street sign labeled Petticoat Lane. Taking in the surrounding parking garages, banks, and office buildings, it can be difficult to discern why this short byway was named after women’s…