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

American Jazz Museum

By William Fischer, Jr., October 4, 2016

1. American Jazz Museum Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The American Jazz Museum is an important cultural institution dedicated to its mission of celebrating and exhibiting jazz through performance, education, exhibitions and research at America's Jazz Crossroads - 18th and Vine.

There were four major stops along the earliest jazz portals including New Orleans, Chicago, New York and Kansas City. During the "Golden Age" of jazz, the 18th & Vine Jazz District was seen as thriving and alive, often coined as the "Paris of the Plains". It was a place for grooming significant pioneers of Kansas City Jazz, such as Charlie Parker, Bennie Moten, County Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Andy Kirk and others. The strong musical foundation laid by the Kansas City Jazz fathers and mothers gave way to preserving the heritage and history of Kansas City Jazz and 18th & Vine District.

Led by the visionary efforts of civic leaders, the City of Kansas City, Missouri committed resources to the development of the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and renovation of the Gem Theater. Joined by the Horace M. Peterson III Visitor Center, they remind us of our rich past.

The American Jazz Museum

American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Markers image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr.

2. American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Markers

has presented thousands of world-class performances in its "Jammin' at the Gem" series, Rhythm and Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival and its award-winning Blue room jazz club. It continues to display compelling exhibits in its Changing Gallery, to educate youth and young adults through educational programming, [?], artifact & film collections, and to host an array of community events in its facilities that will expand the influence and knowledge of jazz throughout Kansas City and the world.

Erected 2012 by The Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Education. In addition, it is included in the Kansas City - Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City series list.

Location. 39° 5.502′ N, 94° 33.77′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. Marker can be reached from Vine Street north of 18th Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the north grounds of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum/American Jazz Museum complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1616 East 18th Street, Kansas City MO 64108, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (here,

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next to this marker); Roy Wilkins (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kansas City Call (about 500 feet away); Mutual Musicians Association Building (about 600 feet away); Ms. Myra Taylor (about 600 feet away); John "Buck" O'Neil Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Rockhill Nelson (approx. one mile away); Union Prison Collapse (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Also see . . .
1. American Jazz Museum. (Submitted on October 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Kansas City Jazz at Kansapedia. (Submitted on October 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. "All That Jazz" article by Kansas City Public Library. (Submitted on October 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Kansas City Jazz Oral History Collection. (Submitted on October 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 220 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.