Hey, history buffs. Submit your unofficial historical locations around town.
Have you ever looked at a local spot and thought, “This place deserves to be commemorated?” Our city is full of legendary locations – many of which are indicated by historical markers. Historical markers reveal significant places, streets, neighborhoods, buildings, businesses, and cultural events from the past or present. Think: The Battle of Westport + the Kansas City Stockyards.
But not all significant areas get the attention they deserve. What about the Plaza Winstead’s where everyone got their first taste of a Skyscraper shake? Or the route of the record-breaking Royals World Series parade in 2015? (Truman Sports Complex already has an official marker) We want to put these places on the map — literally.
Rules + details
Submit your historic place for a chance to be featured nationwide on our historical marker map. Our favorite submissions will then be featured in our newsletter, where we’ll put it to a vote. Who knows? Maybe it will receive an official historical marker.
Submissions are open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Finalists will be selected by our team and announced in our newsletter. These finalists will then go head-to-head in a vote for our readers’ favorite. The winner will be announced later in December. No promises that it will get an actual historical marker, but it will be one in our hearts.
Want to know more about official historical markers around town? Check out our Kansas City landmark guide.
The results
The votes are in for the KCtoday’s historical markers contest. Check out the finalists below, including the contest winner decided by your votes.
Winner: Starlight Theater
It was a close call, but when it came down to Starlight or the Western Auto sign, the choice was clear for KCtoday readers. 51% of our readers voted for this Swope Park staple which has been around since 1950 as the largest and oldest performing arts organization in KCMO.
Heart Forest
Long before Charlie Hustle’s iconic tees became a surefire way to find your gate at the airport, a heart-shaped grove of trees has stood tall nearby KCI — right off North Brightwell Road and N.W. 104th Street.
The environmental monument was planted by volunteers in 1990 and inspired by a 1987 Peace Conference speech by Chief Leon Shenandoah of the Iroquois Nation: “I am an elderly man and when I travel, I grow weary. But when I’m here in the heart of America, my heart grows strong.”
Arguably the most recognizable feature of KC’s skyline is a neon dream.
Photo by Mike Day
Western Auto Lofts
Close behind Starlight was the Western Auto Lofts with 42% of the vote. The most iconic symbol of the Kansas City skyline sits atop a storied building — one that formerly housed trailblazing businesswoman + early 20th century fashion icon Nelly Don’s first factory.
Rice-Tremonti Farm Home
“This is a Civil War ‘General Order No. 11; survivor and tells the story of pioneer Missouri, the westward trails, the institution of slavery, emancipation, and growth of the suburbs.” — Leigh E.
This wooden farmhouse was once a supplier and camping site for travelers on the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails starting in 1844, and is currently listed as a stop on the National Park Service offering public access, interpretation, tours, and other educational events.
It doesn’t stop there — we got more submissions than these. Just check out our map of unofficial historical locations — both locally and across the nation.
