National Archives at Kansas City

The National Archives at Kansas City is located in the old Adams Express Building and is one of the thirteen regional archives in the United States. This branch holds historical documents from Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The records include maps, journals, artifacts, and drawings from close to one hundred federal agencies. The archives are open to visitors at no charge, and it is also filled with interactive exhibits for people of all ages. Researchers can make an appointment in the facility's research rooms to explore the treasure trove that exists in the archives.

What was once the historic Adams Express Building, part of the Union Station complex, in Kansas City is now the home of the National Archives at Kansas City. When it opened during Memorial Day weekend in 2009, the year the National Archives and Records Administration celebrated its 75^th anniversary, the 35,000-square-foot facility consisted of space for archival material, areas designated for three exhibitions, and research rooms. The Central Plains archives, the former name, were situated in a warehouse-type facility before they moved to their current location.

The Adams Express Building is a part of the Union Station complex, and it served as a freight storage structure when it was built. Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt designed the building in the Beaux-Arts style around 1913-14. Hunt was known for being a supporter of the City Beautiful movement that picked up momentum in the early 20^th century, and he created several railroad stations across the United States, including in Oakland, California, Dallas Texas, Joliet, Illinois, and Kansas City.

The building was converted into an archival facility by the General Services Administration, which, through federal historic tax credits, was able to lease it to the National Archives. It was redesigned and modernized by Kansas City architects Peckham Guyton Albers and Viets, who strove to maintain the basic historic architectural features while creating an interior space that met the needs of the National Archives. The Union Station complex is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Archives at Kansas City is one of thirteen regional National Archives facilities in the nation where visitors may access federal records. In 1968, the regional archives system was created to make historic records available in the region where they originated from. The Central Plains regional archives opened the following year, beginning with 168 cubic feet of court records. It now holds more than 50,000 cubic feet of historical documents that date from the 1820s to the 1990s from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

There are two accessible research rooms. The textual research room is for researchers working with original documents, and the nontextual research room is for utilizing online material. The archival documents include the original landmark filing of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, whimsical vintage circus posters, enemy alien documents, compensation claims that slave owners filed, and steamboat inspection records. There are also signatures from famous personalities like Harry Truman, Thomas Edison, Leon Trotsky, Johnny Carson, and Thurgood Marshall.

At the National Archives in Kansas City, visitors can schedule guided tours, for groups no larger than twelve people, during weekdays. Larger group tours are also offered. With something for everyone, the archives host author lectures, keynote speakers, and special exhibits. The archives also host a variety of public programs throughout the year, including workshops on genealogy, research in archives, student internships, and facility tours. This state-of-the-art facility serves historians, genealogists, journalists, educators, students, lawyers, and others who are interested in exploring historical information related to the Central Plains region. 

More in Store for Visitors to the National Archives at Kansas City, National Archives. May 14th, 2009. Accessed January 23rd, 2024. https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2009-236.

Ried, Kimberlee. The National Archives at Kansas City, Visit Kansas City. Accessed January 24th, 2024. https://news.visitkc.com/facts/the-national-archives-at-kansas-city#:~:text=Visitors%20can%20research%20genealogy%2C%20tour,attend%20public%20programs%20and%20lectures.&text=HIGHLIGHTS%3A,teaching%20history%20using%20archival%20documents.

National Archives at Kansas City: Public Programs, National Archives. August 15th, 2016. Accessed January 24th, 2024. https://www.archives.gov/kansas-city/public/programs.html.

Ried, Kimberlee. NARA Is Up to Date in Kansas City, National Archives. March 31st, 2023. Accessed January 24th, 2024. https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2009/spring/kansas-city.