A coronavirus-era guide to KC attractions: What’s open, what’s closed, what’s changed
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art will join the majority of the city’s museums and attractions when it reopens next month, but other venues remain closed because of the pandemic.
Chief among them is the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Like the Nelson-Atkins, which this week announced plans to reopen Sept. 12, the Kemper closed March 14 with the hope of reopening April 4. That idea died quickly as COVID-19 infections and deaths mounted through the spring.
Many area museums and attractions resumed operations in June, when cities and counties began loosening restrictions. A review of the area’s museums and attractions indicates nearly 60% have reopened.
Even though the coronavirus numbers remain high, venues have continued to reopen, highlighted by the Arabia Steamboat Museum and the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures in July and now the Nelson-Atkins.
Kemper has had two false starts in its efforts to welcome back the public. It announced in June that it would reopen July 21, but then the number of positive COVID-19 cases spiked in the area. In mid-July, Kemper pushed the reopening date to Aug. 11 and barely a week later settled on “an undetermined date later this fall.”
Sean O’Harrow, Kemper’s executive director, is blunt in his assessment of the pandemic’s trajectory.
“Well, in the absence of effective, coordinated government leadership or advice, we are left to figure this out on our own, thankfully with help from our peer organizations in Kansas City and elsewhere,” he wrote in an email response to questions from The Star.
“I never expected such a bumbling, ineffective approach to managing a major public health crisis such as this. And just when you think it should get better, it gets worse! So our initial thought of closing our physical plant for a month or so has been extended much longer than we wanted.”
O’Harrow said Kemper officials will monitor the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 and will need to see declines before they will consider opening their doors.
“Unfortunately, Missouri is currently listed as one of the states with the steepest increase in infection rates, so reopening this month or next seems unlikely,” he said. “Please know that we will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so — I hope sometime relatively soon!”
Meanwhile, Kemper has expanded its online offerings, recently making “Elias Sime: Tightrope,” which was to have been its major fall exhibition, available virtually.
Needless to say, when Kemper does fully reopen, things will be different than when it last greeted the public in March.
At the Nelson-Atkins, the only visitors over the past five months have been three penguins from the Kansas City Zoo who waddled through the galleries in May and went viral in a video. The museum’s planned Sept. 12 reopening for humans will include revised hours and protocols. Admission will remain free, but timed tickets and masks will be required.
Other adjustments include closing some restrooms, providing hand sanitizer throughout the museum, placing directional signage to encourage social distancing and changing Rozzelle Court from a cafeteria-style setting to a fast-casual restaurant.
All museums and other attractions now operating have social-distancing and other safety measures in place, and most have moved to limited schedules. Virtually all special events have been canceled. Check websites or call before going.
Here, then, is a breakdown:
Closed for remodeling
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
Closed to public for $30 million renovation in July 2019 with goal of reopening in fall 2020 (see updates at trumanlibraryinstitute.org/renovation-timeline).
500 W. U.S. 24, Independence. trumanlibrary.gov, 816-268-8200
Kansas City Museum
Work on $22 million project began in November 2017, and first stage of renovation was completed in July 2019; plans to reopen in 2021.
3218 Gladstone. kansascitymuseum.org, 816-513-0720
Open
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Liberty Memorial, 100 W. 26th. theworldwar.org, 816-888-8100
American Jazz Museum
1616 E. 18th. americanjazzmuseum.org, 816-474-8463
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
1616 E. 18th. nlbm.com, 816-221-1920
National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
5235 Oak. toyandminiaturemuseum.org, 816-235-8000
Science City
Union Station, 30 W. Pershing. unionstation.org/sciencecity, 816-460-2020
Kansas City Automotive Museum
15095 W. 116th, Olathe. kansascityautomuseum.com, 913-322-4227
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
8909 W. 179th, Overland Park. artsandrec-op.org/arboretum, 913-685-3604
Powell Gardens
1609 N.W. U.S. 50, Kingsville. powellgardens.org, 816-697-2600
Fort Osage National Historic Landmark
107 Osage, Sibley. makeyourdayhere.com, 816-650-5737
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site
1200 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe. mahaffie.org, 913-971-5111
Harris-Kearney House Museum
4000 Baltimore. westporthistorical.com/harris-kearney-house, 816-561-1821
TWA Museum
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, 10 Richards Road. twamuseum.com, 816-234-1011
Museum of Illusions
Union Station, 30 W. Pershing. kansascity.museumofillusions.us, 816-216-7387
Jesse James Birthplace
21216 Jesse James Farm Road, Kearney. jessejamesmuseum.org, 816-736-8500
Open but …
Kansas City Zoo
Must have a timed reservation.
Swope Park, 6800 Zoo Drive. kansascityzoo.org, 816-595-1234
Worlds of Fun
Will close for season Sept. 7; Oceans of Fun closed.
4545 Worlds of Fun Ave. worldsoffun.com, 816-454-4545
Arabia Steamboat Museum
Self-guided tours only.
City Market, 400 Grand. 1856.com, 816-471-1856
Airline History Museum
Guided tours only upon request; movie theater closed until further notice.
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, Hangar 9, 201 NW Lou Holland. airlinehistory.org, 816-421-3401
Museum at Prairiefire
Feature exhibition “Permian Monsters” now closed. Tickets required only for Discovery Room; other areas free.
5801 W. 135th, Overland Park. visitthemap.org, 913-333-3500
John Wornall House Museum
Self-guided tours only.
6115 Wornall. wornallmajors.org, 816-444-1858
Alexander Majors House
Self-guided tours only.
8201 State Line. wornallmajors.org, 816-444-1858
1859 Marshal’s Home and Jail Museum
Online reservations required.
217 N. Main, Independence. jchs.org/1859-jail, 816-461-1897
Missouri Town 1855
Fall Festival of Arts, Crafts and Music canceled.
Fleming Park, 8010 E. Park, Lee’s Summit. jacksongov.org/missouritown, 816-503-4860
Closed but …
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Will reopen Sept. 12.
4525 Oak. nelson-atkins.org, 816-751-1278
Wonderscope Children’s Museum
Reopened briefly in June; now closed until fall, when a new building at 433 E. Red Bridge is scheduled to open.
5700 King, Shawnee. wonderscope.org, 913-643-6700
Shawnee Mission Indian Mission
Tours available by appointment.
3404 W. 53rd, Mission. kshs.org and fairwaykansas.org, 913-262-0867
National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame
Tours available by appointment.
630 Hall of Fame Drive, Bonner Springs. aghalloffame.com, 913-721-1075
Bingham-Waggoner Estate
Hopes to reopen for Christmas season.
313 W. Pacific, Independence. bwestate.net, 816-461-3491
Closed
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
4420 Warwick. kemperart.org, 816-753-5784
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
JCCC, 12345 College, Overland Park. nermanmuseum.org, 913-469-3000
Spencer Museum of Art
University of Kansas, 1301 Mississippi, Lawrence. spencerart.ku.edu, 785-864-4710
Vaile Mansion
1500 N. Liberty, Independence. vailemansion.org, 816-325-7430
National Frontier Trails Museum
318 W. Pacific, Independence. ci.independence.mo.us/nftm, 816-325-7575
Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center
720 N. Fourth, Kansas City, Kansas. strawberryhillmuseum.org, 913-371-3264
Truman Home
219 N. Delaware, Independence. nps.gov/hstr/index.htm, 816-254-9929
College Basketball Experience
T-Mobile Center, 1401 Grand. collegebasketballexperience.com, 816-949-7500
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
13800 Switzer, Overland Park. artsandrec-op.org/farmstead, 913-897-2360
Hallmark Visitors Center
Crown Center, 2450 Grand. hallmarkvisitorscenter.com, 816-274-3613
Hallmark Kaleidoscope
Crown Center, 2500 Grand. hallmarkkaleidoscope.com, 816-274-8300
Money Museum
Federal Reserve Bank, 1 Memorial Drive. kansascityfed.org/moneymuseum, 816-881-2683
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
