This historic congregation dates back to 1836 when Methodists began work to organize a church in Westport. Reverend James Porter organized and led the congregation in its early years, and in 1853, the congregation dedicated this church on Christmas Day. Before the church was built, the Methodists in Westport went to church in the house of William Miles Clark. The structure has been renovated, modernized, and expanded, but the core structure of the building has changed little and retains its historic appeal. As part of that history, it was here where students and teachers of what would grow to become the Allen School and Westport High School first met.
Westport businessmen wanted to put up a life-sized stone wagon train to mark the centennial of the Santa Fe Trail. Instead, local women raised the funds for this 1920 tribute "To the Pioneer Mother." It was one of the first pioneer mother monuments erected in the United States.
This 1986 tribute to John C. McCoy, Alexander Majors, and Jim Bridger is the culmination of 75 years of pioneer commemoration efforts by Westport business leaders and residents.
The Ewing-Boone Building, also referred to as the Albert G. Boone Building, is believed to be one of the oldest surviving brick commercial buildings in present-day Kansas City. It was built around 1851 by the Ewing Brothers and later purchased in 1854 by Albert Gallatin Boone; both Boone and the Ewings were originally Native American traders. During the 1850s and 1860s, the building functioned as a crucial supply store for pioneers, trappers, and traders traveling through Westport along the Santa Fe Trail and other routes. The building later housed a hardware store, drug store, and grocery store. Starting in the 1930s, a series of owners began operating a bar in the facility. Today the Ewing-Boone Building is home to Kelly's Westport Inn, an Irish pub and one of the most popular bars in the Kansas City community. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1959.
This Chouteau-Bridger Building is a building that shares a lot and is connected to the Ewing-Boone Building. The building was originally built between 1850 and 1851. Cyprien Chouteau was the original owner from 1850-1866 then was bought Jim Bridger. The building used to hold Westport’s only newspaper during the 1850’s. This newspaper was shut down by Union soldiers in 1861 due to the newspapers pro-southern publications. Union captain Albert Wachsmann, used the building as an outfitting store for wagon trains.
Mabry Hall was built in 1857 and was originally known as Hebron Hall. The two lots that this building was built on was originally bought on cost $96, in 1850, and they were purchased by Simon Sager. A week later, James hunter bought two lots from Sager for $130. Dr. William E. Mabry, the building's namesake, bought the building and placed his name on it in 1903. Dr. Mabry was the town physician at the time and had moved to Westport in 1879. Dr. Mabry himself, lived on nearby Archibald Street.
The Nathan Scarritt House is the oldest surviving frame house in Westport. It was built around 1847-1852 by Dr. Joseph O. Boggs, in a simple, domestic style. The home's most notable resident was Nathan Scarritt (1821-1890). A prominent Methodist missionary, preacher, teacher and real estate developer, Scarritt and his family lived in the house from 1852 to around 1862. By the late twentieth century, the house attracted attention for its age and significance as a surviving relic of the community's pre-Civil War history. It underwent some restoration work in the 1970s, and again in 2004 after its purchase by the James B. Nutter Company. Today the building functions as a commercial space housing businesses, though it retains much of its original appearance. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
According to the Site-Seeing in Old Westport written by the Westport Historical Society, traffic had become so heavy within the area of the library's location. Due to the traffic, a horsecar rail line was installed between Kansas City and Westport. In order to afford the line, a tax was levied on the citizens of Westport. With the money left over after the line was put in, the Allen Library was built. The library is named after Judge Arthur M. Allen. Judge Allen had been a large force in the construction of the horsecar rail line.
The Harris-Kearney House was built in 1855 by early settlers John and Henrietta Harris. They were notable in the Westport community for operating a successful tavern, the Harris House Hotel, which served many visitors traveling on the Santa Fe Trail. The home was in the midst of the Battle of Westport during the Civil War and used as headquarters for the Union Army. The Greek Revival style house is the oldest remaining brick home in Kansas City. It serves as the headquarters of the Westport Historical Society which was formed in the 1950s. The Society offers tours of the building along with other historical sites throughout the area. It also operates a local history library and special events, evening lectures, and dinners. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The Calvary Baptist Church was built in 1890. The church sits on the corner of Baltimore and Westport Road, which was originally Main St. The land that the church is built on was donated by John Bristow Wornall. The Calvary Baptist Church arose from the First Baptist Church of Kansas City. The Calvary Baptist Church also indirectly originated from The Old Baptist Church of the Big Blue. This latter church was a Union Church.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
Get a QR Code for this tour
Explore the famed Kansas City neighborhood of Westport with this short walking tour that includes several museums in addition to historic buildings and landmarks. For those who are inclined, this walking tour includes several historic buildings that are now home to taverns, offering the potential of a rather "spirited" tour of Kansas City history.
