One of the first things I really fell in love with 17 years ago when I moved to Kansas City was the city's historic neighborhoods and buildings. While many cities, particularly out west, were largely populated during the 50s and 60s, Kansas City had one of it's largest growth spurts between the 1880s and 1930s (largely because of easy transit access via rail and the Missouri River). The result is that Kansas City has a LOT of great old homes -- many of them clustered in old neighborhoods.
Another great thing, is that while neighborhoods continue to try to attract people back to the older population centers, they compete by having homes tours to allow people to tour these historic homes. And Fall is one of the key times for these homes tours.
One of the first ones of the season is in Hyde Park. Hyde Park is one of many great historic neighborhoods in Kansas City -- and rose up mostly between the 1900s and 1920. The neighborhood also has a lot of diversity in its homes -- including Jansen Place mansions, Kansas City Shirtwaist style homes, Arts and Crafts style homes, smaller bungalows and large apartment buildings.
The homes on this year's tour mirror that diverstiy and time frame with homes dating from 1900 to 1921 on the tour.
The tour is on Saturday, October 6 -- from 10 am to 6 pm. Cost is $13 for the tour ($11 for students/seniors) -- or you get a $2 discount if your purchase tickets in advance.
Parking is throughout the neighborhood -- or, you can stop at the Stine and McClure (3325 Gillham Plaza) and take advantage of shuttle buses that will run continuously throughout the day taking you to the homes on the tour. There will also be a couple of the newly renovated apartments along Armour available for showing, a classic car show (3400 block of Kenwood), and Kansas City Pet Project, a new organization that is now operating the Kansas City, MO Animal Shelter will also have some pets available for adoptions at the home on the 3300 block of Harrison.
All of the homes pictured on this blog posting will be part of the 2012 Hyde Park Homes Tour. You can find out more about the tour, and the specific homes, here.
This is always a great event --and a great time to enjoy and learn about a little bit of Kansas City's rich history.
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