Old Westport in Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Action Before Westport
Price's Raid
⎯⎯⎯
Battle of Westport and The Battle of the Big Blue
Photographed by Thomas Onions, July 18, 2009
1. Action Before Westport Marker
Reverse of Marker
Pleasonton's Union Cavalry and a Corps of Infantry were in pursuit. General Samuel Curtis with 10,000 militia was on the Big Blue River. Blunt's Division guarded the Little Blue. Union troops numbered 27,500. Blunt's Division was driven from the Little Blue by Shelby and Marmaduke on the 21st, and Curtis from the Big Blue on the 22nd. Pleasonton pushed Fagan's Confederates from the Little Blue through Independence on the 22nd.
After Curtis' troops were driven west by Price on the 22nd, they camped near here and at Kansas City. Curtis made his headquarters in the Harris Hotel on this spot and prepared to defend Kansas City and the State of Kansas from the invader.
Next Stop: See 23-marker Tour Map and other information on the reverse side.
and
The Battle of the Big Blue
October
this page online
Historical Markers
Erected by
Monnet Battle of Westport Fund
A Non-Profit Organization Under the Aegis of
Civil War Round Table of Kansas City
Tour Information
Auto Tour: 23 Markers, 30 Miles
Additional Information at nearby businesses
displaying sign with above insignia; also at the
Harris Home, 4000 Baltimore, and the Wornall
Home, 61st Terrace and Wornall.
Major Donors:
Family of Alexander J. Barket, Marker 17
Johnson County National Bank & Trust Co, markers 6 & 8
Westport Bank, Marker 1
Padgett Instruments & Earl C. Padgett, markers 15 & 21
Westport Historical Society, markers 4 & 11
Sponsor Donors:
Jackson County Historical Society, marker 5
Martha Fowk, marker 7
J.C. Nichols Co., marker 12
Kansas City Chapter United Daughters (& Children) of the Confederacy, marker 13
United Telecom, Inc. marker 14
Kansas City Star and Times, Marker 17a
Amoco Oil Co., marker 19
Historical Society of New Santa Fe, marker 22
In Honor of Dr. Bert Maybee, by the Civil War Round Table, marker 23
Contributing Donors:
Hardin Stocton Corp.
American Cynamid Corp
Civil War Times Illustrated
Nichols Industries
Mr. Jerry Krause
Stratford Graham Eng. Corp
Pepsi-Cola
Photographed by Thomas Onions, July 12, 2009
2. Action Before Westport Marker
Front of Marker
B.F. Ascher Co.
Edward John Wimmer, architect
Stanley L. Goldman, M.D.
Kansas City Posse the Westerners in memory of Robert L. Buck
Native Sons of Kansas City
Faculty, Metropolitan JR. College
Shawnee County Kansas Historical Society
William A. Goff
ROUTE TO TOUR STOP 2: East on Westport Road; right at Broadway (Nichols Parkway) after crossing Brush Creek; right on Ward Parkway, to Sunset Drive.
Erected by Monnett Battle of Westport Fund. (Marker Number 1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Missouri Battle of Westport, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 19, 1812.
Location. 39° 3.183′ N, 94° 35.492′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. It is in Old Westport. It is at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Westport Road, on the right when traveling north on Pennsylvania Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kansas City MO 64111, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Original Site of Harris House (here, next to this marker); The Albert G. Boone Store (a few steps from this marker); The French and the Santa Fe Trail
Photographed by Thomas Onions, July 12, 2009
3. Action Before Westport Marker
In the background is the Historic Kelly's (known at the time as the Boone Building) - which was present during the Battle of Westport.
More about this marker. There are markers on all four corners of this intersection. This metal marker is located on the northeast corner along with the pink granite marker for the site of the Harris House.
Also see . . . Civil War on the Western Border: Battle of Westport. Kansas City Public Library website entry (Submitted on April 17, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2009, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas. This page has been viewed 2,291 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 18, 2009, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas. 2, 3. submitted on July 16, 2009, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
