The pictures of old Kansas City, Kansas are definitely popular. After I published my first two "then and now" blogs, a gentleman emailed and said that he has collected about 50 postcards of old Kansas City, Kansas. He agreed to share them, so I scanned them and will share them with you over the next few weeks.
The postcards range from about 1906 to 1971. Some are actual photographs and some look like watercolor paintings (probably painted from an actual photo).
I tried to go out and get as many "now" pictures as possible, but some of the perspectives were impossible to duplicate.
I'm certainly learning a lot about the history of Kansas City, Kansas. I hope that all of you continue to find these enjoyable. Feel free to click my email or Suggestion Box links at the bottom of the page if you'd like to share thoughts or additional photos.
Today's post cards will all be on the far east side of Kansas City, Kansas (in and around the Strawberry Hill and downtown areas). You can click on any picture to get a larger and better view.
The Lewis and Clark viaduct was a very popular postcard subject (it was referred to as both the interstate viaduct and the intercity viaduct on different postcards).
Here are a few postcards that show the viaduct and the areas around its west end. Some had postmarks on them, so I know the date they were mailed. Others didn't have postmarks and I don't really have a good idea about what year the postcard was published.
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| Looking west toward KCK from the Missouri end of the bridge. Notice the lack of "skyline" on the Kansas side. |
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| Another perspective from Missouri looking west. The postmark on this card was 1909. What strikes me is how far south the river water extends |
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| The postmark on this card was also 1909. It looks to me like a somewhat stylized watercolor of the actual photo above. |
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| The postmark on this card was 1915. In some ways, it looks like it could just be an updated version of the 1909 photo. |
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| Can you see the viaduct through the trees? I couldn't get anywhere close to the original perspective. Look how much "river" we have reclaimed along the south bank. |
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| A view of the viaduct looking east toward Kansas City, Missouri. I'm not 100% sure, but I wonder if that's Armstrong Avenue coming in from the right and running down to the toll house. I'm guessing that this road is similar to the current eastbound lanes. |
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| Again, I couldn't get the old perspective (although I think I'm pretty close). I put a red line on the right where Armstrong Avenue sits now. Assuming that it's in roughly the same location as always, then all of the bridge lanes are higher than they used to be. |
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| I'm told that the viaduct was a toll bridge in the early 1900's. The house next to the roadway on the right is the toll house for people passing from Kansas to Missouri. |
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| Much more modern looking in this 1948 postcard. |
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| This perspective is looking southwest from the intercity viaduct. Almost every structure along the river in this picture was demolished for construction of I-70. |
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| Those of you who know Strawberry Hill well can tell me what you think, but this 1907 postcard appears to give a view looking northwest from what would have been Sandusky down by the river (i.e., 3rd or 2nd Street long before the interstate was built). The two dark brown buildings at the horizon look to me like St. John's church (left) and the Scroggs mansion (left of center) before the orphanage was built (now part of the Strawberry Hill Museum). |
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| The Grund Hotel on the northwest corner of 6th Street and Ann Avenue. |
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| I think the lot has been vacant since the hotel was torn down. |
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| The caption says, "Presbyterian and South M.E. Churches." Located on the northeast corner of 7th Street and State Avenue. |
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| Only one of the original churches remains (minus the spire). |
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| Here's the old courthouse on the northwest corner of 7th Street and State Avenue. |
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| Your can see the steeple of the remaining church (without spire) under the two stoplights. Police Headquarters sits where the Courthouse used to be. |
That's all for today.
We'll talk infrastructure (streets, curbs, sidewalks and alleys) in my next blog.
Until then, have a great week!
~ Brian
bmckiernan@wycokck.org
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