The only thing these are missing are autographs on the back pages. | Photos via MVSC
Think being a student in the pre-internet age kept your embarrassing freshman year photo off the web? Think again.
Today, we’re cracking open the Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library’s online archive with loads of local history to sift through — including 1,000+ yearbooks from metro schools spanning the 1920s to 2000s.
We’re willing to bet that’s when most of our readers were students, unless there’s a Guinness World Record holder in our midst.
Scroll to find your school + narrow down the results by your desired year.
Once you’ve found the one, click through and bask in the memories. (The site even lets you download + print the files, just click the appropriate icons in the top right corner.)
Not all yearbooks — including those from elementary, middle, trade + universities — are available online. See if your year is on the list and check it out in-person at the Central Library.
With graduation season in full swing, we figured it was the perfect time for this healthy dose of nostalgia. So please, share your favorite photos with KCtoday + we might feature them in an upcoming newsletter.
Events
Events
Tuesday, May 13
Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 6 p.m. | Casual Animal Brewing Co. | Free entry | Bring a favorite record from your collection, and they’ll throw it on the turntable for everyone to enjoy.
Wednesday, May 14
The Social Hour: N/A Speakeasy Pop-Up | 6-10 p.m. | Third Place Lounge | $14 | Expect moody lighting and live jazz to accompany a secret drink menu crafted with housemade syrups + botanicals for 0% ABV cocktails designed for depth, not distraction.
Thursday, May 15
Brookside History, Haunts & Horrors Walk | 5:30 p.m. | John Wornall House Museum | $22 | From tales of organized crime and kidnappings to shocking murders, prepare to uncover the darker side of one of Kansas City’s most charming neighborhoods.
Sierra Ferrell | 7 p.m. | Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland | $49+ | Shoot the moon with a performance from one of the brightest young luminaries in roots music today.
Friday, May 16
Invicta FC 62: Rubin vs. Lehner | 5:30-9:30 p.m. | Municipal Auditorium | $42+ | The world’s premier organization for women’s mixed martial arts brings the octagon to KC.
Saturday, May 17
Volker Homes Tour | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Kansas City Oasis | $25 | Experience your own Architectural Digest-style tour with a self-guided exploration of four residences and a historic church.
Air Supply, 50th Anniversary Celebration | 8:30 p.m. | Ameristar Casino and Hotel | $80+ | Celebrate half a century of timeless ballads like “All Out of Love” and “Making Love Out of Nothing At All,” sure to make you swoon all over again.
Char Bar plans to erect a verified pickleball palace in downtown Olathe, complete with a side of smoked meats. Honored guests (aka, all of us) will get to enjoy the 26,000-sqft complex’s six courts, fire pit seating, indoor-outdoor dining, and yard games — all in an expanded former fire station. (KCBJ)
Sports
Get your game face (and wallet) ready — the Chiefs 2025 schedule drops this week, and so do single-game + group tickets. Jackson County taxpayers score early access at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 15 ahead of the public sale at 11 a.m. Just use a credit card with a local ZIP. (Kansas City Chiefs)
History
Here we glow again. Midtown’s massive, red 1,042-ft KCTV Broadcast Tower — dark for ~20 years — will be re-lit thanks to the city’s Illuminate KC initiative. Already aglow: City Hall, Union Station, and the Kauffman Center. Next up? Kit Bond Bridge. (Kansas City Star)
Announced
Johnny Knoxville, Kenan Thompson, David Cook, and Fortune Feimster are among the first celebs announced for Big Slick, returning to KC for its 16th year May 29-31. Its VIP meet-and-greet? Sold out, but you can still catch them at Friday’s Celebrity Softball Game + Saturday’s main event. (KCTV5)
Real Estate
What’s next for North Valentine? The largely vacant Midtown area — home to Metropolitan Community College’s Penn Valley campus and the world’s oldest Irish business (outside of Ireland) — is at the center of a development tug-of-war. Read the Wall Street Journal’s deep dive on the neighborhood’s future, including a possible plan for redevelopment.
Eat
Whether you’re craving bánh mì or German jelly doughnuts, Westport’s newly opened Tiffany Bakery is selling a variety of European, American, and Asian treats. The full menu drops at the grand opening on Wednesday, May 28, but you can get a taste now or, at least, a mouthwatering preview. (Kansas City Star)
Feel Good
Talk about a well-traveled toy: After a young KC girl left her beloved giraffe in Punta Cana, a kind stranger not only returned it — they documented the entire globe-trotting journey Flat Stanley-style. (FOX4)
Number
$1,300. That’s how much money per year you could be wasting overpaying on car insurance, according to a 2024 survey. See if you’re overspending.*
The Buy
As temperatures rise, we’re upgrading our wardrobe with some new warm weather hangout attire. These are some of our favorite finds:
Reader Ann A. sparked a great question: What can be done about unkempt bus stops and other messy transit touch points around KC? I’m digging into it now — but if you’ve got a similar concern or a neighborhood resource worth sharing, pop into our email inbox.
Answered
Answered
Which phrase did President Truman famously have a sign of on his desk?
And on the back: “I’m from Missouri.”
Photo via Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
86% of you knew it: “The buck stops here” belongs to none other than Independence’s own Harry S. Truman. While the eastern suburb claims him, Kansas Citians across the metro clearly know their presidential trivia. And fun fact — every other quote we shared was actually his.
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