Restaurants

KCQ serves up a history of early KC hamburger stands

While the hot dog is considered quintessential cuisine for the July Fourth holiday, the hamburger is undeniably king among American eats. It is a menu staple at restaurants throughout the U.S., not to mention the backyards and ballparks in which countless grilled patties are served up and consumed. Kansas City has its own juicy burger history — the focus of this installment of What’s Your KCQ?, an ongoing series produced by the Kansas City Public Library and The Kansas City Star. A reader recently perused the Library’s 1940 Tax Assessment Photograph Collection, a photographic survey of Kansas City buildings and residences, and noticed numerous hamburger stands around the downtown area. Town Topic and White Castle were two familiar names, but Bungalow, Eat-Moore, Happy Hollow, and many others were not.

A City Illustrated: The S. Stephen Lispi Collection

Missouri Valley Special Collections staff recently processed the S. Stephen Lispi Collection containing the work of an artist who, during his career of over 60 years, crafted some of the most recognizable images in Kansas City. The collection not only reveals the fascinating process of this remarkable artist, but it also offers a glimpse into local history through the lens of commercial design.