Quality Hill Walking Tour
Description
This short walk around the Quality Hill neighborhood blends several threads of Kansas City's history, starting with the French traders and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which are commemorated by historical markers and monuments. The walk starts at the Quality Hill overlook, which includes numerous historical markers and several monuments, including one to First War leader James Pendergast, the older brother of political boss Tom Pendergast. The overlook was once the site of the Bluff Street Bridge, and there is a marker recognizing a lynching that occurred at that bridge in 1882. The tour then moves towards several historic structures that demonstrate how Quality Hill has changed over time, from a former Jewish gentleman's club to the city's historic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The tour then turns north towards the starting place, stopping at the site of the Coates Opera House and Coates Hotel. The tour concludes with the location of the former 8th Street Tunnel, which connected Quality Hill with the West Bottoms and a pair of historic restaurants.