Rockhill in Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

William Rockhill Nelson

1841 - 1915

— "Citizen" —

William Rockhill Nelson Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 6, 2011

1. William Rockhill Nelson Marker

Inscription.

William Rockhill Nelson. Founder of The Kansas City STAR Developer of the Historic Rockhill District Patron of the Arts. , William Rockhill Nelson was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and came to Kansas City in 1880. Shortly thereafter he produced the first issue of what he called "The Evening Star." For the rest of his life, he used the columns of The Kansas City STAR to fight for myriad of public causes, including the development of a free parks and boulevard system., Nelson began acquiring property in the area that became Rockhill in about 1890, naming it in honor of his mother, Elizabeth Rockhill. On the western edge he built his own baronial residence, Oak Hill. (Today it is the site of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.) His first Rockhill houses were built around 1902 and many used stone quarried on his property. Leading Kansas City architects designed many of the residences and it is believed Nelson designed some himself. He also had smaller "workers' cottages" built which were modeled after the stone cottages of the English Cotswalds [sic]. Some survive along Cleaver II Boulevard and on Harrison and Pierce streets. When his only child, Laura, married Irwin Kirkwood, Nelson built a house for them directly across from his own residence. It subsequently became the site of the Rockhill Tennis Club for more than 50 years., The design of the Historic Rockhill District reflects Nelson's interest in order, symmetry and harmony in urban design. These are hallmarks of the City Beautiful Movement which emphasized the use of native materials and urban design which complimented the natural terrain. The most striking feature of the area remains its low limestone walls. At his own expense Nelson built Rockhill Road which curved around the east side of Oak Hill., At his death, Nelson was eulogized simply as "Citizen" for his remarkable contributions to building Kansas City. The bulk of his estate went to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum. The neighborhood he created was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Kansas City Register of Historic Places as the Historic Rockhill District in 1975., The Rockhill Homes Association dedicates this Park in 2009

Founder of The Kansas City STAR
Developer of the Historic Rockhill District
Patron of the Arts

William Rockhill Nelson was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and came to Kansas City in 1880. Shortly thereafter he produced the first issue of what he called "The Evening Star." For the rest of his life, he used the columns of The Kansas City STAR to fight for myriad of public causes, including the development of a free parks and boulevard system.

Nelson began acquiring property in the area that became Rockhill in about 1890, naming it in honor of his mother, Elizabeth Rockhill. On the western edge he built his own baronial residence, Oak Hill. (Today it is the site of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.) His first Rockhill houses were built around 1902 and many used stone quarried on his property. Leading Kansas City architects designed many of the residences and it is believed Nelson designed some himself. He also had smaller "workers' cottages" built which were modeled after the stone cottages of the English Cotswalds [sic]. Some survive along Cleaver II Boulevard and on Harrison and Pierce streets. When his only child, Laura, married Irwin Kirkwood, Nelson built a house for them directly across from his own residence. It subsequently became the site of the Rockhill Tennis Club

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for more than 50 years.

The design of the Historic Rockhill District reflects Nelson's interest in order, symmetry and harmony in urban design. These are hallmarks of the City Beautiful Movement which emphasized the use of native materials and urban design which complimented the natural terrain. The most striking feature of the area remains its low limestone walls. At his own expense Nelson built Rockhill Road which curved around the east side of Oak Hill.

At his death, Nelson was eulogized simply as "Citizen" for his remarkable contributions to building Kansas City. The bulk of his estate went to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum. The neighborhood he created was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Kansas City Register of Historic Places as the Historic Rockhill District in 1975.

The Rockhill Homes Association dedicates this Park in 2009

Erected 2009 by The Rockhill Homes Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 39° 2.758′ N, 94° 34.718′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. It is in Rockhill. Marker is at the intersection of Kenwood Avenue and East 45th Street, on the left when traveling north on Kenwood Avenue. Touch for map

William Rockhill Nelson Relief image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 6, 2011

2. William Rockhill Nelson Relief

. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 East 45th Street, Kansas City MO 64110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The "Fourth Dolphin" (approx. half a mile away); The Jesse Clyde Nichols Memorial Fountain (approx. half a mile away); The Seville Light Fountain (approx. 0.6 miles away); Kansas City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain (approx. 0.6 miles away); Giralda Tower (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gift of Life Fountain (approx. 0.6 miles away); Park Maintenance Building (approx. 0.7 miles away); Neptune (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Also see . . .
1. Rockhill Neighborhood Association. Association website homepage (Submitted on December 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. William Rockhill Nelson. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 30, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. The Kansas City Star. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 30, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

4. Rockhill Neighborhood. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Submitted on December 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 6, 2011

3. William Rockhill Nelson Marker

Looking west toward intersection of East 45th Street, Gillham Road West, and Rockhill Road in background.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 6, 2011

4. William Rockhill Nelson Relief

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 709 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.