Museums & Culture

The American Jazz Museum celebrates Kansas City’s legendary role in the history of jazz through interactive exhibits, performances, historic artifacts, and educational experiences in the historic 18th & Vine District. The museum serves as both a cultural attraction and a tribute to the musicians who shaped America’s jazz heritage. Convenient RideKC connections nearby make it easy to explore the district’s music, dining, and entertainment destinations.

The Arabia Steamboat Museum showcases one of the nation’s most unique collections of preserved pre-Civil War artifacts recovered from a sunken steamboat buried beneath Kansas City soil. Located in the historic River Market district, the museum offers an engaging look into frontier life, commerce, and regional history through immersive exhibits and educational experiences.

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum is a dynamic educational resource that inspires life-long learning, spurs discussions about democracy and service, and supports local, national, and global citizenship. The Library uses President Truman’s life and legacy to inform, inspire, educate, and engage modern audiences about his timeless wisdom and significant contributions from which the world continues to benefit.

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is one of Kansas City’s premier entertainment and cultural destinations, hosting concerts, ballet performances, theater productions, and symphony events in a world-class architectural setting. Located in downtown Kansas City, the venue attracts visitors from throughout the region for unforgettable live performances and community events. RideKC transit and nearby KC Streetcar connections help make attending performances convenient and accessible.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is a leading contemporary art destination featuring rotating exhibitions, modern collections, educational programming, and cultural experiences in Midtown Kansas City. The museum offers visitors an engaging environment focused on creativity, innovation, and artistic expression while supporting Kansas City’s vibrant arts community. RideKC transit access nearby helps connect visitors to the museum and nearby dining, shopping, and cultural attractions.

The museum exhibits the art of the imagination through the world’s largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and one of the nation’s largest collections of historic toys. 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 National WWI Museum and Memorial is one of Kansas City’s most iconic cultural landmarks, offering immersive exhibits, historic artifacts, and panoramic skyline views from Liberty Memorial Tower. As the nation’s official museum dedicated to World War I, the destination attracts visitors from across the country seeking educational experiences, history, and reflection. The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, has the largest collection of artifacts from the Great War.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum preserves and celebrates the history of African American baseball and the athletes who transformed the game through exhibits, memorabilia, and educational experiences in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine District. The museum serves as a nationally recognized cultural and historical destination honoring sports history, civil rights, and community heritage. RideKC transit access nearby helps visitors conveniently reach the museum and surrounding attractions.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is one of the region’s premier cultural destinations, featuring internationally recognized collections, sculpture gardens, exhibitions, and educational programming in the heart of Kansas City. Known for its iconic Shuttlecock sculptures and expansive galleries, the museum offers an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Each visit to the Nelson-Atkins brings different connections and unique experiences. The Nelson also hosts several festivals and special events throughout the year.

Located at Johnson County Community College, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (NMOCA) has one of the top internationally acclaimed collections of emerging and established artists today. Public Art Review magazine named JCCC as one of the top 10 university/college campuses for public art in America, citing the sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photography and works on paper installed throughout the campus. The museum presents many of the region's most important exhibitions of leading-edge contemporary art, as well as dynamic and diverse educational programming.

The Museum Of Kansas City embraces the humanities to explore the past, present, and future of Kansas City. The Museum weaves together vibrant stories, perspectives, and voices into evolving collections, exhibitions, and programs that elevate our shared history, cultural heritage, and human experiences. The Museum includes Corinthian Hall, Elixir and the Billiard Room.