Dating back to 1910 and headquartered in Kansas City, Hallmark is the largest and one of the oldest manufacturers of greeting cards in the United States. Founder Joyce Clyde "J.C." Hall began selling postcards for his brother William's bookstore in Norfolk, Nebraska in 1905. Five years later, he moved to Kansas City and opened a specialty store a few years later with his brother Rollie. The siblings named their business called Halls Brothers and offered books, gifts, and postcards, before transitioning to designing and selling greeting cards a couple of years later. Halls Brothers became a national brand in 1928, and while they often used the name "Hallmark Cards," the company name didn’t officially change until 1954. During this period of growth, Hallmark made licensing agreements, built its first headquarters, adopted the crown symbol, and designed the upright greeting card display fixture which is still the standard for cards today. When J.C. retired in 1966, his son Don took over the company and worked with his family to plan Crown Center to revitalize the area surrounding the Hallmark headquarters. Today, Crown Center remains a family friendly entertainment district while Hallmark remains a private, family owned business.
One of the most-visited landmarks of Crown Center, a mixed-use shopping and entertainment center built in the 1960s to be home to Hallmark’s corporate headquarters, this visitor's center offers exhibits and guided tours that explore the history of the Hallmark company. Exhibits and a free tour begin with the arrival of a young Joyce C. Hall (better known as J.C. Hall) in Kansas City and how his often challenging experiences selling postcards and other items designed by others inspired him to purchase a press and start his own company. Together with his older brothers William and Rollie Hall, Hall Brothers (later known as Hallmark) grew into the company known today. Highlights of the experience include the J.C. Hall Christmas Trees, the Bow Machine, the history of Crayola, and Hallmark Media. While the company is known most commonly for its greeting cards, Hallmark has launched several different business ventures which began with J.C. Hall’s interest in advertising and would later include the local department store Halls. When the company began advertising on the radio and in publications like Ladies Home Journal, the Hallmark brand became the biggest name in the greeting card industry. This growth led to requests to sponsor a variety of events such as the first opera created to be broadcast on television by NBC in 1951. The success of that opera led Hallmark to create the Hallmark Hall of Fame and support additional productions leading to the Hallmark Christmas movies that continue to the present.
Completed in 1973, the Crown Center Square Fountain is the centerpiece of the Crown Center business and shopping district. The 2,000 square-foot playful fountain is situated in the center of a landscaped courtyard across from the entrance of the Crown Center Shops. Its ground-level surface is made of checkerboard patterned pavers with dozens of jets that shoot water spouts 60 feet into the air. Water shows are performed daily and synchronized to music recorded by members of the Kansas City Symphony.
First opening in 1971 with five office buildings and a public greenspace, Crown Center has become one of Kansas City’s premier shopping and entertainment districts for millions of visitors each year. It was first conceptualized by Hallmark Cards founder Joyce Clyde "J.C." Hall as “a city within a city” as part of his urban revitalization plan for the area surrounding Hallmark’s headquarters. By 1973, the Crown Center Shops, Ice Terrace, and first of two hotels opened and has continued to develop over the years. The urban complex now offers business space, residential living, shopping, interactive and creative family experiences, and includes multiple art installations and fountains, two performing arts theaters, and an entertainment pavilion that is host to an array of live events and festivals throughout the year.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This short guided walking tour through Kansas City's Crown Center includes narrated stops at Crown Center and its iconic fountain along with the Hallmark Visitors Center and Hallmark's corporate headquarters.
