Kansas City in Platte County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
One of KC's Oldest
If you like a bit of history with your beer or burger, be sure to head for Kelly’s Westport Inn, in Kansas City’s Westport district. During the westward movement in the mid-1800s, Westport was a "re-fueling" stop where wagon trains could replenish their provisions for the long trip ahead.
In 1852, the Ewing brothers, traders from Logansport, Indiana, built the brick building on the northwest corner of what is now the intersection of Pennsylvania and Westport Road, and set up an outfitting store for wagon trains heading west. In 1854, the building was sold to Albert Gallatin Boone, the grandson of explorer, Daniel Boone. Albert Boone ran a mercantile business, but was also known to be involved in slave trading. For that reason, the building also became a gathering place for pro-slavery forces before the Civil War.
However, as the was escalated and Union troops converged on Westport, Boone decided to not only get out of the slave trading business, but he also chose to hightail it out of town. He left Westport in 1859 to become one of the first citizens of Denver, Colorado, and sold the store to Robert Campbell from St. Louis, Missouri.
The building continues to be known as the Ewing-Boone building – the oldest brick commercial building in Kansas City – but is now occupied by one of Kansas City’s most popular watering holes, Kelly’s Westport Inn. Stop in sometime and drink up a little history.
Erected by Kansas City International Airport. (Marker Number C9.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 39° 19.069′ N, 94° 41.728′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Platte County. Marker is at Passenger Kiosk C9, in Economy Parking Lot C, at Kansas City International Airport, 601 Brasilia Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kansas City MO 64153, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sweet Tooth (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); On The River (about 300 feet away); Lewis and Clark (about 500 feet away); City of Fountains (about 500 feet away); Heart of the Nation (about 700 feet away); The Garment District (about 700 feet away); Thomas Hart Benton (about 800 feet away); All That Jazz (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.
More about this marker. The Economy Parking Lots' passenger kiosks each have unique historical markers and flashy artwork to help passengers remember where they parked.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The Albert G. Boone Store
Also see . . .
1. History of Kelly's Westport Inn. Website homepage (Submitted on June 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Albert Gallatin Boone. Kansas Bogus Legislature website entry (Submitted on June 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Westport Historical Society. Society website homepage (Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 631 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on June 7, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.