If you’re looking for an art-filled day exploring everything from ancient Egyptian treasures to modern art and miniatures, Kansas City’s Museum District is the perfect destination! Once in the Museum District – there are lots of stops you’ll want to make (and you might want to spend more than one day to take it all in!)
A few things will help you plan your day before you go:
Getting there: The District runs along the Streetcar route, close to the Country Club Plaza. If riding the streetcar, get off at the Art Museums stop. Get streetcar details at the KC Streetcar website. If you’re driving, parking is available in the garage at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Learn along the way: Download the Clio app before you go for a GPS guided audio tour that will tell you about each area of interest along the way within the Museum District. Or just use it to tour the Sculpture Park outside the Nelson-Atkins to learn about each work of art as you explore the park. Learn more about Clio
Learn about the Arterie: The heart of the District is The Arterie, an experiential pathway connecting the city’s most prominent creative institutions. It begins at the Art Museums stop of the Streetcar (at Main Street and 45th Street). Learn more about the Arterie and find a map to plan your stops at the Arterie website.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (open Wednesday – Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesdays) Home to a growing collection of nearly 1,500 works, the museum showcases both established and rising artists, with a strong emphasis on those from historically underrepresented communities. Housed in an iconic building designed by Gunnar Birkerts, Kemper Museum offers an ever-changing mix of exhibitions, installations, and bold new projects, presenting 8 to 10 major shows each year and a robust schedule of events. Its restaurant, Oil on Linen, features an art-inspired menu by Chef Ted Habiger, who is known for his commitment to local farmers and sustainable practices.
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City Art Institute sits a few blocks from the Kemper Museum. The school is one of the most prominent art and design schools in the country, with outdoor sculpture to admire, along with two galleries to visit. Check for hours and current exhibitions at the KCAI Gallery and the Emily & Todd Voth Artspace.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (open Thursday – Monday, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is cultural heart of Kansas City, with more than 5,000 years of world-class art. Recognized nationally and internationally as one of America’s finest art museums, the museum welcomes all who visit with free admission.
Don’t miss this collection of more than 42,000 art objects, including its renowned collection of Asian art, European and American paintings, photography, modern sculpture, and Native American and Egyptian galleries. In 2007, the Nelson-Atkins added the Bloch Building, a critically acclaimed addition to the original 1933 Nelson-Atkins Building. Plan your visit and see current exhibitions here.
Stop at the museum’s Rozelle Court Restaurant, built in the dramatic style of a 15th-century Italian courtyard. You’ll find artful cuisine worthy of its glorious setting. Enjoy masterfully crafted signature salads, sandwiches, soups, breads and desserts changed seasonally to utilize the freshest ingredients. The restaurant offers self-service dining for lunch. Families are welcome. Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options are available.
On warm weather days you won’t want to miss strolling through the Donald J Hall Sculpture Park surrounding the museum where you will see 35 major, large-scale sculptures situated on 22 acres. This collection is renowned for having one of the largest collections of bronze sculptures by Henry Moore in the United States. In addition to Henry Moore, the park features works by artists such as Roxy Paine, Robert Morris, and Magdalena Abakanowicz. And of course, you’ll recognize the four 18-foot-tall Shuttlecocks (1994) by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen from iconic photos of the Museum.
If you’re not using it for the entire district tour, we recommend downloading the Clio app for a free, GPS guided tour of the Sculpture Park. With audio available in 6 languages, pop in an earbud and it will tell you about each sculpture as you approach it, using GPS to determine the work you’re closest to. More about The Clio here.
Stop to play a round of mini golf at the Art Course. An artist-designed mini golf experience located in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and open seasonally. Each stop on the nine-hole course presents a creative interpretation of a work of art in the museum’s collection. Reservations in advance are recommended, or available on site on a first come first serve basis – and this often sells out.
National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
Hop back on the streetcar and ride two stops to the UMKC campus stop (at 51st and Brookside) and walk a few blocks to 52nd and Oak Street, where you’ll find the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (open Wednesday – Monday, closed Tuesday). The museum offers visitors an engaging experience in a world of historically significant toys and fine-scale miniatures. From dollhouses and games to green army men, Barbie dolls, and video game consoles, the Museum’s toy collection explores social and cultural history through the lens of toys from about 1690 to the present day.
The miniature collection showcases artists’ exquisite handiwork, from miniature rooms and structures to individual miniatures, including musical instruments, paintings, decorative arts, tools, food, and beyond. All fine-scale miniatures are handmade by artists, often inspired by an existing full-scale object, and typically scaled to 1:12.
Whether you make it through the Museum District in one epic day, or enjoy each part of it on its own day, there is always more to explore with changing exhibits and events!
English
French
German
Spanish
