One of the biggest cities in the Midwest, Kansas City is situated at the border between Missouri and Kansas. This US city has become internationally famous because of its barbecue that is often referred to as the best in the world. Do you like jazz music? In this case, Kansas City is a must-visit destination because this musical style is the most popular here. Finally, Kansas City is a beautiful place with so many boulevards that even Paris is inferior to it in this regard. When taking a stroll on the streets of the city, it is easy to notice that there are so many fountains. This fact makes Kansas City stand out from the other cities in the world.
Before the arrival of the first European, the territory of modern Kansas belonged to the Algonquin people. The first white man stepped on this land only in 1713. This was a French man called Etienne de Veniard. After this event, France claimed the land. However, the region got a new owner – Spain – in 1763 in accordance with a peace treaty between the two countries. However, none of the former owners was really successful in the development of the region. Americans started buying the territories of North America at the beginning of the XIX century. Kansas City became a part of the United States already in the 20s. The settlement started developing, slowly turning into one of the major transport hubs.
What should tourists see in Kansas City? The city is divided into several districts, each of which is interesting and unique. As a rule, tourists first visit the downtown – the central business district. There are many beautiful art deco buildings in this part of Kansas City. Moreover, many dwellings are historical monuments of the past centuries. They look surprisingly good near modern glass skyscrapers. This is also the location of the City Theater that has six halls. The theater is an up-to-date building with sophisticated technologies such as vibrating chairs.
In order to learn more about the historical part of Kansas City, don’t forget to visit the City Museum. This establishment is open in an old mansion, so it is twice more interesting to see it. The building has roughly fifty rooms, each of which features a unique exhibition. Take a look at the exhibited artifacts and you will find out about the sad fate of Kansas City and the challenges that the city had to endure on its way of turning from a hunting village to a modern industrial and transportation center. Some exhibitions like the fur shop and old pharmacy are small but, nevertheless, very interesting.
There is a district with its own unique history not far from the business center of Kansas City. This is the 18th and Vine District. This is a true cradle of African American culture. In the first half of the 20th century, this was the district of jazz clubs that remained open until morning. All black jazz musicians and singers visited these clubs to perform and listen to others.
If you like jazz music you certainly know such internationally famous talents as Charlie Parker and Lester Yong. These outstanding jazz musicians performed at local clubs many times. Nowadays, there is the Museum of American Jazz in the 18th and Vine District. Fans of jazz from all over the world visit this museum as pilgrims in order to see precious artifacts that tell the history of their favorite music style.
Continue your walk in Kansas City in SEA LIFE, a large interactive aquarium. It is home to thousands of different aquatic creatures. It is amazing how quickly you can change the bustling city center to a wondrous underwater world. Don’t be scared to see a shark “face to face” – a truly unforgettable experience. Besides, visitors have a fantastic opportunity to see the sea stars, interesting sea horses, and gracious stingrays in detail.
Tourists can get to Kansas City by airplane departing from Chicago or Los Angeles. The airport is situated twenty-five kilometers from the central part of the city. Upon your arrival, you will need to get on a bus, taxi or shuttle bus to the central part of Kansas City. It is also possible to travel by bus departing from Chicago or Saint Louis. The bus goes directly to the central part of Kansas City.
