When it comes to museums, exhibits are just the first step. | Photo via Kansas City Museum
Museums are the cultural hubs of Kansas City. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about the City of Fountains or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 16 museums to visit in KC.
History
Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd. | Free
Once a private mansion from 1910 to 1940, you can explore Corinthian Hall’s four floors for history exhibits, art installations, and reimagined rooms like the Elixir soda fountain.
Arts + culture
Museum of BBQ, 2450 Grand Blvd. | $10
Take a saucy stroll through two immersive paths — one spotlighting iconic US barbecue regions, the other breaking down the ingredients and techniques behind the magic. (Pro tip: Don’t skip the baked bean ball pit.)
Kid-friendly
Wonderscope, 433 E Red Bridge Rd. | $0-$16
Come for the interactive + accessible exhibits, stay for the kid-friendly workshops and classes ranging from sensational play to engineering.
Thursday Night Auction | 5-10:30 p.m. | Andrew Turner Auctions | Free entry | Whether you’re bidding or just people-watching, this East Bottoms event offers up antiques, retro furniture, artwork, and other eclectic finds in a laid-back atmosphere.
Friday, July 18
Dive-In Movie Night | 8:30-10:30 p.m. | Merriam Community Center, Merriam, KS | Free for members, $9 for non-members | Break out your floaties for a screening of “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” suspended above the outdoor pool.
Saturday, July 19
Dog Days of Summer | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Excelsior Springs Community Center, Excelsior Springs | Free entry | Like the town’s 1800s wellness tourists, visit for a modern-day health retreat — but for pets. Expect mobile vaccines, microchipping, mini grooms, a splash zone, and plenty of homemade treats.
Prop Party: A Propagation Workshop | 1-4 p.m. | Aizen Root Remedy | $17 | Learn plant propagation best practices and leave with a bundle of baby cuttings (and the confidence to grow them into thriving beauties).
A Night of Women, Wine, and Wordplay | 7-10:30 p.m. | Bliss Books & Wine | $29 | Raise a glass to sisterhood and socialize over playful word games inside the duo-wine bar + bookstore.
Sunday, July 20
Babies & Bumps | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Marriott Kansas City, Overland Park, KS | $35 | Connect with helpful resources, get answers to questions you didn’t even know to ask, and walk away with must-have gear at this event for anyone with a baby or one on the way.
The Original Kenny Rogers Band | 5-7 p.m. | Knuckleheads Saloon | $49+ | This isn’t a tribute band, but the actual group that backed the late, great Country Hall of Famer Kenny Rogers — now touring with Don Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers.
Don’t let your upcoming event get lost in oversaturated summer calendars. Amplify it to KCtoday’s 74,000+ engaged subscribers through our self-service ad portal.
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Something Good, the Garment District’s new neighborhood bar, opened yesterday with free pool, a photo booth, and a crowd eager to sample its cocktail menu (and a few bites). Meanwhile, upscale West Bottoms cocktail lounge Laila is prepping for a summer debut — complete with furniture and artwork by artisans from Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and India, including mosaics inspired by Czech Art Nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha. (KCBJ)
Development
First pitched in 2007, Arise Homes is reviving a nearly 20-year-old plan for a new mixed-use development in south Overland Park. Near 159th Street and Mission Road, plans include 215 rental units (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and fiveplexes), plus picnic areas, a pedestrian trail, and a pickleball court. (Johnson County Post)
Sports
Ever wonder how the Royals pick who sings the National Anthem and “God Bless America”? The Pitch dug into the selection process with a veteran performer and outlined how you can audition, too.
Community
The Paseo Stairs — an iconic feature of the boulevard and Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts — may be getting a refresh. The City and Kansas City Public Schools are teaming up on a potential renovation and are seeking community input on the (very pink) proposed redesign.
Health
Construction kicked off today on a $40 million surgical services expansion at Overland Park Regional Medical Center — part of a $120 million investment by HCA Midwest Health to increase access to trauma and complex surgical care. Phase one will add ~9,000 sqft of new surgical space and renovate an additional 10,000 sqft of existing space by 2027.
Outdoors
Spotting a fox in your backyard? Don’t panic. It’s cub season, which means younger foxes are learning to hunt — and you may see them more often. While they’re small (7–15 lbs) and rarely pose a threat to humans, officials advise keeping a close eye on cats and toy-sized pups when wandering outside. (Kansas City Star)
Job
Donna’s Dress Shop is hiring vintage-loving fashionistas with knowledge of 1920s–1990s styles and availability Thursday–Saturday. Swing by with your resume between 12–6 p.m. this weekend — and don’t forget to dress the part. Want to hire with heart? Submit your job to our local jobs board.
Spend your summer nights under the stars at WeekEnder on Crown Center Square. Every Friday from now to Aug. 1, enjoy live music, local food trucks, and a free outdoor movie. Festivities kick off at 6 p.m., with the movie beginning around 9 p.m. Learn more.*
Wellness
Shaped to arouse the whole you, this FDA-registered vibrating ring adjusts to your unique shape to support arousal, natural lubrication, and overall intimate wellness. (For the 77% of our readers who are women, consider this part of your self-care toolkit.) Bonus:Save 30%.*
Imagine stepping into a sleek, modern shower and not tripping over a peeling tub. HomeBuddy can match you with a local pro for a spa-worthy remodel — get a free estimate.*
Save hundreds when you shop Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale for top deals on apparel, home, beauty, and more. We’re adding these five to our cart before they sell out:
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I feature a few of these in the events section from time to time (and love checking them out myself), but I’m thinking it’s time for a full round-up of recurring neighborhood celebrations — like Strawberry Hill’s Third Friday Art Walk. Does your community have something similar? Drop us a line and let us know.
^This content was created by our Client Success Team. Let’s work together — explore affordable advertising options at advertise.6amcity.com.
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