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Hell and High Water: The 1951 Kansas City Flood

Hell and High Water: The 1951 Kansas City Flood

Name: Hell and High Water: The 1951 Kansas City Flood
Start: 2026-07-11T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2027-01-03T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Kansas City Public Library – Central Library

At Kansas City Public Library - Central Library, Kansas City, MO

By Kansas City Public Library

The Flood of 1951 was the worst natural disaster in Kansas City’s history. Seventy-five years later, this exhibition looks back at its impact on the region, commemorating those who lost loved ones and property, the first responders, social service providers, citizen volunteers who helped in rescue and relief efforts, and the “Kansas City Spirit” that inspired a community to rally, recover, and rebuild.

Through dozens of historic photos, Hell and High Water: The 1951 Kansas City ... view more »

Through dozens of historic photos, Hell and High Water: The 1951 Kansas City Flood tells the story that begins in May 1951 with weeks of heavy rainfall and leads to “Black Friday,” the breaching of the levees on July 13, 1951.

Argentine in Kansas City, Kansas, was the first community to be engulfed, followed by Armourdale, the Central Industrial District (West Bottoms), and neighborhoods along Southwest Boulevard. The next day, the water broke through the levee protecting the Fairfax Industrial District along the southern banks of the Missouri River.

At the time, the devastation was unfathomable. Thousands of people evacuated their homes to seek refuge, and massive numbers of livestock and other animals perished. The water destroyed or damaged roughly 20,000 residences and 3,000 businesses in the Kaw River Basin, totaling more than $800 million in losses — nearly $10 billion in today’s dollars.

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Admission details

Free admission.

Date + time

Oct 12, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Mon)

Oct 13, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Tue)

Oct 14, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Wed)

Oct 15, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Thu)

Oct 16, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Fri)

Oct 17, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Sat)

Oct 18, 2026 at 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Sun)

Oct 19, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Mon)

Oct 20, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Tue)

Oct 21, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Wed)

Oct 22, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Thu)

Oct 23, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Fri)

Oct 24, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Sat)

Oct 25, 2026 at 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Sun)

Oct 26, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Mon)

Oct 27, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Tue)

Oct 28, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Wed)

Oct 29, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Thu)

Oct 30, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Fri)

Oct 31, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Sat)

Nov 1, 2026 at 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Sun)

Nov 2, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Mon)

Nov 3, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Tue)

Nov 4, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Wed)

Nov 5, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Thu)

Nov 6, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Fri)

Nov 7, 2026 at 9:00am - 5:00pm (Sat)

Nov 8, 2026 at 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Sun)

Nov 9, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Mon)

Nov 10, 2026 at 9:00am - 7:00pm (Tue)

Event durations (if noted) are approximate. Please check with the presenting organization or venue to confirm start times and duration.

Location + accessibility

Kansas City Public Library - Central Library

14 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105

View in Google Maps

Parking is available in the Library garage located at 10th and Baltimore. Parking is free for speaker events with validation.

Accessibility Info

LOCATION

Kansas City Public Library - Central Library

14 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105

View in Google Maps

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