Kansas Culture
For an American City, Kansas sure has a huge percentage of Irish citizens, primarily due to its large Irish communities– numbering to a population of 250,000, which are then grouped into several bands. These include “The Elders,” several Irish newspapers, Irish stores, the Irish Museum and Cultural Center and of course, Browne’s Irish market, which is the oldest Irish business in North America. Also the leading publisher of Irish family works is based in Kansas City, by the name of the Irish Genelogical Foundation.
Aside from the Irish influence, Kansas city also offers a vast array of architectural styles, which include famous and unique buildings, including the gargantuan Bartle Hall, the magnificent Convention Center, and the fascinating art deco and municipal Auditorium. It also has a line of skyscrapers, including the KCTV-Tower (which ranks 39th tallest tower in the world, as well as the tallest freestanding structure in the whole of Missouri), the Kansas City Power, and the Liberty Memorial, which is a vestige of World War I, as well as a museum of the United States.
A display of uniquely built and designed buildings aren’t the only selling point of Kansas’ wonderful architecture. Kansas city is also called the “City of Fountains” and for a good reason. It is second only to Rome when it comes to fountains, having more than 200 fountains spread around the city. In fact, their official logo is that of a fountain. To view the best fountains this city has to offer, head on over to the Country Club Plaza, where you can find the 1960 J.C. Nichols Memorial fountain, along with several smaller fountains throughout the streetscapes.
The firms responsible for these significant architectures include 360 Architecture, Ellerbe Becket, ACI/Boland, HOK Sport, and HNTB.
Aside from stunning visuals, Kansas City is also known for the way they cook their meat. No one can call himself a barbecue or steak expert without having tasted any of Kansas City’s steaks or barbecues. The famous Golden Ox Steak House is one of the most well-known restaurants in the state, and often a must-go-to for tourists. And joining the ranks of Texas and Memphis is Kansas City’s barbecue, being considered a world capital of the grilled dish. With more than 90 barbecue restaurants in the metropolitan area, an annual barbecue contest (one of the biggest in the world in fact), as well as a well-kept barbecue recipe, few places are worthier of the “Barbecue World Capital.”
Lastly, let’s take a look at Kansas City music. These folks love their jazz and opera. Jazz has a big place in Kansas history, which can be explained by the museum dedicated to it, specifically, the American Jazz Museum. Opera and classical lovers can find a haven in Kansas, with 3 great structures to choose from: the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and the Kansas City Ballet.