The $22 million project has created a 21st-century museum of Kansas City where visitors can experience multiple perspectives of Kansas City’s vibrant history and cultural heritage past, present, and future.
Corinthian Hall, at 3218 Gladstone Blvd., was built in 1910 by lumber baron Robert A. Long. Closed since 2017, the 70-room mansion itself is an artifact, built in the Beaux-Arts style, and serving as museum since its initial opening to the public in 1940.
"It's taken so many years of not just renovating Corinthian Hall, but creating all of the exhibits, the programs, increasing staff capacity and, finally, after seven years, getting to the point where the Kansas City Museum Foundation actually governs, manages and operates the museum." said Anna Marie Tutera, executive director of the Kansas City Museum
Denise Morrison has been with the museum for over 30 years. Going back to when she first joined the museum in 1988, Morrison recalled, "There were dreams then of renovating the museum, and doing the exhibits and making sure the building was in tip top shape." Now as visitors are once again in the building Morrison observed, "This has been a long time coming and to see it finally come to fruition, I can't express how wonderful it is to still be here to experience it, to be part of it. It's a genuine thrill."
- Anna Marie Tutera, executive director of the Kansas City Museum
- Denise Morrison, director of Collections & Curatorial Affairs
