This iconic photo from the September 13, 1977, edition of The Kansas City Times captures the devastation of the Plaza Flood, with cars swept through the streets of the Country Club Plaza. The image remains a powerful reminder of the disaster that struck the heart of Kansas City.
The Kansas City Star archives
Opened in 1923, the Country Club Plaza was the first large-scale, planned outdoor shopping centers in the United States and quickly became a model for suburban shopping districts. Located in the upscale Country Club District, it was designed by J.C. Nichols in the Baroque Revival and Moorish Revival styles, with inspiration drawn from Seville, Spain.
An empty lot sits in the 1920s, shortly before the Country Club Plaza was developed. The open land would eventually become the site of one of Kansas City’s most iconic shopping districts. The Kansas City Star archives
The Chandler Nursery, at 47th Street and Mill Creek, was a family-owned business long before the Country Club Plaza was built. In 1916, founder Clarence A. Chandler constructed a steam-heated greenhouse, with its tall smokestack serving as a landmark for years. The Kansas City Star archives
The Plaza’s grand architecture, complete with towers, fountains, and sculptures, has been a fixture of Kansas City life for nearly a century. A 14-block district, it is home to more than 70 stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues, spread across 784,000 square feet of retail space. Its 40 statues, fountains, and sculptures contribute to the area’s cultural richness, making it a favorite destination for visitors and photographers alike.
Street scene of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City in 1957. The Kansas City Star archives
A Christmas scene atop the marquee of the new Sears Roebuck & Co. store on the Country Club Plaza in the 1940s. The Kansas City Star archives
A new sidewalk café offering seating for 68 guests opened on 47th Street at Broadway on the Country Club Plaza in 1967. Created by J.W. Putsch, the café sits adjacent to his coffee house and the Side Door Lounge, providing an inviting outdoor dining experience. The Kansas City Star archives
A particularly beloved tradition is the Plaza’s annual lighting ceremony, held each Thanksgiving Thursday. Thousands gather to witness the 180,000 lights illuminate the district in a stunning display. The Plaza’s fountains, such as the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, are also captured in many photographs, adding a serene touch to the lively atmosphere.
J.C. Nichols in front of his office at 310 Ward Parkway on the Country Club Plaza in this undated photo. The Kansas City Star archives
Beyond its beauty, the Plaza has been a site of significant events, including protests such as those held in response to George Floyd’s death, underscoring its role as a gathering space for the community. The Plaza has also faced challenges, such as flooding along Brush Creek, but its resilience and place in Kansas City’s history remain intact.
This collection of photographs, spanning decades, showcases the Plaza’s evolution as a cultural and commercial center.
The Easter Bunny enjoyed a leisurely surrey ride through the Country Club Plaza after the 20th annual Plaza Easter Parade in 1980. Dave Landis, playing coachman, shared in the festive spirit as more than 1,000 spectators attended the finery contest. The Kansas City Star archives
Angela O’Brien of Independence lights up the night as she throws the switch to illuminate the Plaza Christmas lights in 1978, with help from anchorman Scott Feldman (right), Royals pitcher Paul Splittorff (background), and an unidentified friend with a beard. An estimated 100,000 people gathered to welcome the holiday season. The Kansas City Star archives
Crowds browse among rows of white tents at the 1984 Country Club Plaza Art Fair, where artists from across the country showcased their work. The annual event brings vibrant displays, live entertainment, and a festive atmosphere to the heart of Kansas City. The Kansas City Star archives
A carriage glides through the Country Club Plaza under the glow of holiday lights in 1979, an idea brought to life by Mary Green. She and her daughter, Cherrie Green, offered the nostalgic rides. The Kansas City Star archives
Thousands of people packed the Country Club Plaza on Thanksgiving night in 1980, shoulder to shoulder, as the historic district flipped the switch for the annual lighting ceremony. The Kansas City Star archives
The Isis Shrine band from Salina, Kan., marches in impeccable formation through the Country Club Plaza during the Pajama Parade in 1980. The musicians, dressed in nightshirts, were attending a Shriners’ convention in Kansas City. The Kansas City Star archives
The new Harzfeld’s store on the Country Club Plaza featured furniture in this circa 1960s photo. A preview showing of the store drew about 500 attendees from local merchant associations, press, and radio, highlighting its elegant design, including antique French statues and concealed lighting. The Kansas City Star archives
Fred McClain of the Parks and Recreation Department drains and cleans the J.C. Nichols Fountain near the Country Club Plaza in 1990. In 2020, the J.C. Nichols name was removed from the fountain and it is now referred to as the fountain in Mill Creek Park. Kansas City Star archives
Giant Easter Bunny figures are loaded to be placed around the Plaza in 2007. The bunnies have been a fixture during the Easter holiday on the Plaza since the 1930s. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Two days before Christmas in 2018, dozens of dinosaurs roamed and waddled around the Country Club Plaza on their second annual march, surprising and delighting shoppers and visitors to the Plaza. The Kansas City Star archives
JJ’s Restaurant on the Plaza, one of the long-established restaurants there, came to a tragic end when a natural gas explosion and fire destroyed it in 2013. One person died in the blast. The Kansas City Star archives
The Country Club Plaza did its part to celebrate the Royals in the 2014 World Series with blue coloring of the fountain and the Seville Tower. Roy Inman The Kansas City Star
Protesters sounded off at the Country Club Plaza during a protest to bring awareness to the death of George Floyd who died in the custody of Minneapolis police in 2020. The protest turned violent later in the night when stores on the Plaza were vandalized and at least one police car was set on fire. Police used tear gas in an attempt to control the crowd. Nick Tre. Smith Special to The Star
A view of Kansas City’s famed Country Club Plaza in 2024. Construction of the Plaza, which was the vision of developer J.C. Nichols, began in 1922 and it officially opened in 1923. Tammy Ljungblad Tljungblad@kcstar.com
In 2022, a patch on the west side of the Plaza awaited the construction of a Nordstrom’s store but the retailer eventually pulled out of the deal. The Kansas City Star archives
Server Travis Jones steps out of a holiday-decorated igloo where guests were tucked inside with cocktails and appetizers in 2022 at Nine Zero One Igloo Bar & Lounge on the rooftop at The Fontaine, a hotel on the Country Club Plaza. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Fireworks light the sky over the Country Club Plaza during the 93rd annual Thanksgiving night lighting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022 in Kansas City. The Kansas City Star archives
A rendering looking west on the Country Club Plaza toward where a Nordstrom store had been promised before the company pulled out. It shows a retail and office tower standing approximately 19 stories tall. Developers, The Village Collection, which recently took over the Plaza have a lot of changes in mind for the iconic Kansas City shopping district. Courtesy of Charter Holdings
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
Monty Davis is a video producer and has been with The Kansas City Star for 20 years. He specializes in telling human interest video stories using mobile gear such as his iPhone 13 Pro. Recently he took up an interest in deltiology which is the study and collection of postcards. From that came a new series for The Star called Past | Present. When he’s not working, he’s spending time with family, his pugs, kayaking and reading historical biographies about the American Revolution and the Civil War.
