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Signature City Kansas City |
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Program Number: |
13701RJ |
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| Start
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| Duration: |
5 nights |
| Location: |
Kansas City, Missouri
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| Price starting at: |
$865.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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Signature Cities; Art History/Criticism
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| Meals: |
13;
5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners |
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In Kansas City, beef meets boeuf bourguignon. Dubbed the “Paris of the Plains,” Kansas City is second only to Paris in wide, scenic boulevards and second to Rome with its 200 ornate fountains. Make no mistake, barbecue joints and KC jazz pulse in this metropolitan area of 2.1 million near the geographic heart of the 48 contiguous states. But the KC experience is also its first-rate culture, a spectacular city park twice the size of New York’s Central Park, and an urban revamp organized into 240 neighborhoods.
Highlights
• Explore the new wing of the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the studio of artist Thomas Hart Benton and the state-of-the-art acoustics of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
• At the American Jazz Museum, learn how native sons Count Basie and Charlie “Bird” Parker rocked the “cradle of jazz” in the 1920s and ’40s, and put your foot to tappin’ during a jazz outing at a Kansas City club.
• Learn at the Truman Library about Missouri farm boy Harry Truman, who succeeded FDR as America’s 33rd president and oversaw the end of WWII and the start of the Cold War.
Activity Particulars
Walking up to two miles a day.
Date Specific Information
6-9-2013
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
9-22-2013
Arrive early to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Plaza Art Fair, featuring 240 Artists, 27 restaurants, 3 live music stages and 25 local art organizations. The fair is on the nearby Country Club Plaza, and runs from September 21-23.
12-8-2013
Enjoy the Plaza Lights on nearby Country Club Plaza. Since 1925, strands of colorful lights have glimmered from every dome, tower and window in the 15-block area. See one of the most spectacular lighting displays in the country while you learn about the city. Take in a holiday musical performance as well.
Coordinated by University of Texas at Austin.
Kansas City
Straddling the Missouri-Kansas state line, Kansas City was a busy point of departure during the mid-1800s for settlers, missionaries and traders beginning their journey west. After World War I, the city became a hotbed of jazz for the likes of Charlie Parker and Count Basie and today is famous for its steaks, barbecues and thriving music scene.
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Accommodations
Comfortable hotel near Country Club Plaza.
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Meals and Lodgings |
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Holiday Inn |
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Kansas City, MO |
5 nights
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| Holiday Inn |
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Type: |
Hotel |
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Description: |
Hotel ideally situated just two blocks from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City Art Institute, Country Club Plaza, across the street from the Kemper Museum of Art. Crown Center/Hallmark Cards, Science City/Union Station, Crossroads Arts District, Steamboat Arabia, City Market and downtown area a short ride on the Metro Area Express (MAX). Hotel is four miles from Starlight Theater and Zoo/IMAX Theater. |
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Contact
info: |
One East 45th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111 USA
phone: 816-753-7400
web: www.kcplazahotels.com
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Room amenities: |
Cable, coffee maker, free morning newspaper, hairdryer/iron/ironing board, work desk with lamp, windows open, cordless phone, high-speed Internet. |
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Facility amenities: |
One king or two queen beds, cable, satellite TV w/movie channel and pay-per-view movies, coffee maker, and complimentary coffee/tea, free morning newspaper delivered to room, hairdryer, iron/ironing board, complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access, individually controlled air conditioning, work desk w/lamp, largest outdoor pool in the area with sun deck, complimentary underground secured parking, local transportation (2-3 miles), full-service restaurant/lounge. |
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Smoking allowed: |
Yes |
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Elevators available: |
Yes |
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Additional nights prior: |
Best seasonal rate available. Additional nights available by telephoning the hotel at (816) 753-0359. |
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Check in time: |
3:00 PM |
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Additional nights after: |
Best seasonal rate available. Additional nights available by telephoning the hotel at (816) 753-0359. |
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Check out time: |
11:00 AM |
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The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.
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Day 1: |
Arrival & Registration/Welcome & Orientation
(Sunday, June 9)
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| Afternoon: | ORIENTATION begins in the hotel conference room at 4:30pm. Your arrival packet will contain an updated schedule of program activities, a list of fellow attendees, and your name badge.
Start your Kansas City experience with an informative overview of the week to come. The site coordinator will provide contact names and phone numbers of program leaders, address responsibilities, questions, and concerns, review safety guidelines and emergency procedures, orient you to the hotel location on maps and discuss the program schedule and what will be included in the field trips.
Begin getting to know the program staff and your fellow participants with a get-acquainted session to introduce each member of the group. If you arrive late, be sure to pick up your packet at the hotel front desk. Breakfast each day in the hotel, lunch and dinner at restaurants in Country Club Plaza and other areas around the city.
This Road Scholar program provides opportunities to attend a live Jazz performance, peruse the Truman Presidential Library, American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio, Country Club Plaza, engage in lively discussions on Kansas City's famous personalities and regional history with a noted historian.
| | Dinner: | A nearby restaurant offers multiple entree choices and continuing opportunities to become acquainted with your fellow participants and program staff. | |
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Free Time Opportunities |
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| Kansas City, MO |
Airline History Museum
The Airline History Museum tells the story of early airline travel, with exhibits of all phases. Extensive airline memorabilia, fully restored Super G Constellation and Martin 404, and a Douglas DC-3 being restored. Admission. Telephone 816-421-3401. For additional information, visit www.airlinehistorymuseum.com
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American Heartland Theatre
Now in its 19th season, American Heartland Theatre is recognized as one of Kansas City's theatrical cornerstones. Each year, the Executive Director, and the Artistic Director travel across the country to find the latest and most popular theatrical works on the American scene. American Heartland Theatre is located in Crown Center on the third level at the south end. For additional information, visit ahtkc.com
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Arabia Steamboat Museum
The Arabia Steamboat Museum is home to a true time capsule of frontier life in the 1800's. The Arabia was headed up the Missouri River in the fall of 1856 when she struck a tree snag and sank just north of Kansas City. Her cargo hold was full of 200 tons of supplies bound for general stores and pioneer settlements. As the years passed, the river changed course and left the Arabia buried beneath a Kansas cornfield. Finally, in 1988 a group of modern-day adventurers uncovered the lost Arabia and her magnificent cargo. They were amazed to find fine dishware, clothing, and even bottled food all preserved in remarkable condition. Their find has been called the King Tut's Tomb of the Missouri River. Admission. Telephone 816-471-1856. For additional information, visit www.1856.com
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Hallmark Visitors Center
See one of the world's most creative companies come to life. Located in the Crown Center Complex, the Hallmark Visitors Center celebrates the Hallmark story in a display of 14 remarkable exhibits, from the Hallmark founder's humble beginning in 1910, to the creation of the world's largest greeting card company. Step inside the Timeline exhibit where you'll view historical artifacts that reflect various eras and trends throughout the 20th century America into the new millenium. For additional information, visit hallmarkvisitorscenter.com
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Kansas City Fire Museum
1910-era fire station housing artifacts, apparatus and hands-on displays, as well as educational activities for kids. Telephone: 816-474-0200. For additional information, visit www.kcfiremuseum.com
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Kansas City Museum
Housed in Corinthian Hall, a 50-room Beaux Arts-style mansion, once home to the R. A. Long family. The museum features displays of regional and natural history, a recreated 1910 corner drugstore complete with working soda fountain, and a 50-seat planetarium.
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Kansas City Symphony
Founded in 1982 and recognized as "The Sound of Kansas City," the Kansas City Symphony's 80-person orchestra performs more than 50 concerts in three series (classical, family and pop). The Symphony's 42-week season runs September through June. For additional information, visit www.kcsymphony.org
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Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Since opening in 1994, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has become a leader among modern and contemporary art museums in America. At the core of the permanent collection is the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Collection, encompassing art created from the time of the 1913 New York Armory Show to today, the collection includes works by such renowned artists as Daly Chihuly, Petah Coyne, Morris Louis, Georgia O'Keeffe, Fairfield Porter, Jaume Plensa, Matthew Ritchie, Wayne Thiebaud, and Andy Warhol. For additional information, visit www.kemperart.org
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Lewis & Clark Overlook at Clark's Point
A marker and statue commemorating the Voyage of Discovery's overnight in Kansas City.
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Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City, presents five performances of four works each year in September, November, March and May. Telephone 816-471-7344 for information and tickets. For additional information, visit www.kcopera.org
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Mutual Musician's Foundation
Located in the 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District. The national historic landmark hosts fierce late night jam sessions Friday and Saturday at 1:30 a.m.
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Nelson-Atkins Museum
Visit the gods of ancient Egypt. Reflect inside an authentic Chinese Temple. Survey the magnificence of Claude Monet’s vast Water Lilies.
You are invited to discover some of the 28,000 pieces in the collection of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. From ceramic objects found in ancient Chinese tombs to whimsical sculptures of badminton birdies, the Nelson-Atkins collection spans over 5,000 years of humanity.
For additional information, visit www.nelson-atkins.org
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The Blue Room
A swinging jazz nightclub exhibiting authentic artifacts and featuring Kansas City's finest live jazz entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. For additional information, visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org
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The National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial
On December 2, 2006, the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial debuted as the first American and only national museum dedicated to the Great War. The 30,000-square-foot museum features more than 49,000 artifacts-the world's second largest WWI collection behind Britian's Imperial War Museum. In September 2007, the U.S. Department of the Interior designaged Liberty Memorial a national historic landmark. For additional information, visit nww1.org
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Dedicated in 1986 to all Vietnam veterans. Includes a memorial wall of 336 Kansas City area Vietnam veterans killed or missing in action.
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Suggested Reading List
Kansas City: An American Story
Author: Montgomery, Rich and Shirl Kasper
Description: The best single introduction to Kansas City history, with lots of great illustration.
The Tummy Trilogy
Author: Trillin, Calvin
Description: Trillin was raised in Kansas City before joining The New Yorker staff. He became famous for writing humorous articles about food, starting with an article about Kansas City cuisine that began with the claim that the best four or five restaurants in the world were in Kansas City. This book is great because it tells you where to find the best bar-be-cue, hamburgers, etc., all over the country, and keeps you laughing.
The Mafia and the Machine: The Story of the Kansas City Mob
Author: Hayde, Frank R.
Description: A well-written account of the evolution of the mob from its start in the “north end” during the Pendergast era to its hey-day after World War II and its decline in the 1970s.
The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri
Author: LeSueur, Stephen C.
Description: A fascinating, little known part of Kansas City history, a chapter in the life of Joseph Smith, a major part of the history of Independence, to which Jesus will return at the end of time.
Nelly-Don: A Stitch in Time
Author: O'Malley, Terrance
Description: Kansas City was once an important center of the garment industry. This is the story of the most famous of the garment makers, Nell Donnelly, with lots of illustrations. The book started out as a video project by her nephew. If you are interested in women’s clothes, it is a joy.
Tom and Jack: The Intertwined Lives of Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock
Author: Henry Adams
Description: The drip paintings of Jackson Pollock, trailblazing Abstract Expressionist, appear to be the polar opposite of Thomas Hart Benton’s highly figurative Americana. Yet the two men had a close and highly charged relationship dating from Pollock’s days as a student under Benton. In an epic story that ranges from the cafés and salons of Gertrude Stein’s Paris to the highways of the American West, Henry Adams, acclaimed author of Eakins Revealed, unfolds a poignant personal drama that provides new insights into two of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.
The Plaza: First and Always
Author: Worley, William S.
Description: Well written history, beautifully illustrated.
Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop-A History
Author: Haddix, Chuck
Description: The only scholarly study of Kansas City jazz by the man who plays blues recordings for Kansas Citians on Friday and Saturday evenings on public radio.
Pendergast!
Author: Larsen, Lawrence H. and Hulston, Nancy J.
Description: A scholarly and well-written biography of Kansas City’s most important politician.
The Kansas City Monarchs: Champions of Black Baseball
Author: Bruce, Janet
Description: An important story of the black community here is baseball. The Monarchs were one of the best black baseball teams nationally, famous for Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige.
PBS Documentary- Ken Burns' America: Thomas Hart Benton
Author: Public Broadcasting Corporation
Description: Called "the best damned painter in America" by fellow Missourian Harry Truman, Thomas Hart Benton was known for his colorful murals of everyday American life in the 1930s. This program from director Ken Burns tells the bittersweet story of the artist's life, works and ideals. 86 min.
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