Historical Buildings Tour (Self Guided), Kansas City

The historical buildings of Kansas City are truly remarkable, weaving a narrative of rich heritage and enduring elegance reflecting the city's eventful past and lasting beauty.

At its heart, the imposing Kansas City City Hall rises as a prime example of Neo-Classical and Beaux-Arts architecture, a stalwart symbol of civic pride that has stood the test of time.

As you stroll through the city, you can't miss the Mainstreet Theater, showcasing the elegant blend of Neo-Classical and French Second Empire styles once popular in the 1920s.

The Power & Light Building, on the other hand, is a great representation of Art Moderne architecture, reaching for the sky with its innovative design.

Behold the Midland Theatre, a historic gem where you can still hear the echoes of applause from generations past reverberating within its walls.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Public Library stands not just as a repository of knowledge, but as a monument to the intellectual pursuits that have shaped the city's evolution.

The New York Life Building adds a touch of Renaissance Revival elegance to the skyline, while the Commerce Trust Building's Gothic Revival architecture reflects the city's ideals of trust and stability.

In totality, these buildings narrate the story of Kansas City's progress, each edifice being a chapter in its story of tenacity, progress, and unwavering power of human endeavor. So, next time you're in Kansas City, take a moment to appreciate these architectural wonders. They remind us of the city's journey and the people who made it possible.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and charvex.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Kansas City

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Historical Buildings Tour
Guide Location: USA » Kansas City (See other walking tours in Kansas City)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Kansas City?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Kansas City Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Kansas City?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Kansas City, Missouri

Create Your Own Walk in Kansas City

Creating your own self-guided walk in Kansas City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Kansas City Introduction Walking Tour

Kansas City, Missouri, started in the 1830s as a port city at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. The first European explorers to map the area were the French, who named the river “Cansez,” which eventually morphed into Kansas.

Louis and Clark passed through in 1804, noting that the area was an excellent place to build a fort. The actual settlement didn’t come until later,... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles

Crossroads Art District Walking Tour

Situated at the intersection of creativity and culture, the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City emerges as a thriving hub of artistic expression and cultural vitality. Formerly the industrial and warehouse area, today it is one of the trendiest art communities in the Midwest. As such, this enclave is the place where many progressive art spots have established themselves.

Among its notable... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles