• Down the 16th Annual ACI-NA Conference & Exhibition Guest Tour Brochure
This narrated excursion presents both the historical and present day Kansas City. Guests will have the opportunity to see Lewis & Clark Point overlooking the Missouri River, the downtown financial district, Sprint Center and the adjacent Power & Light District, Union Station, Liberty Memorial, Westport – where the California, Santa Fe and Oregon Trails all intersected, the Vietnam Memorial, The Country Club Plaza with its beautiful J.C. Nichols Fountain, plus much more.
Next it’s time for a journey back through time – to 1856 and the Steamboat “Arabia” Museum. Loaded with 200 tons of cargo, the Arabia was making her way up the Missouri River when a large log pierced her hull. Sinking in minutes, she lay entombed for the next 133 years until her remarkable discovery and recovery in 1989. The Arabia Museum allows visitors to witness the remarkable treasure of goods aboard the vessel that were preserved by the river mud through the years. Her cargo included china, jewelry, clothing, tools, firearms, spirits, bottled fruits, boots and shoes, plus hundreds of other items – all still in pristine condition and beautifully displayed.
After the Steamboat Arabia, guests will enter the Freight House District where lunch will be served at Lidia’s Little Italy. Lidia and Joseph Bastianich opened Lidia's Kansas City together with David Wagner, a Kansas City native, in a former railroad house just north of Kansas City's historic Union Station. Designed by acclaimed New York architect David Rockwell, the restaurant evokes the feel of an Italian farmhouse despite its tremendous size. Lidia's Kansas City features a daily tasting of three fresh, homemade pastas, modeled on the popular pasta service at the Bastianich family's Becco in New York.
Independence, Missouri, is the home of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S Truman. The Truman Library is one of only eight in the U.S. administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Consisting of research archives, there are more than 14 million pages of manuscript material stored here, including five million from the White House files. The museum section of the library focuses on Truman’s career and his administration. Be sure to see the reproduction of the Oval Office as it looked during his presidency.
In addition to visiting the Truman Library, guests will have the opportunity to view not only the Old Independence Square and Courthouse where Harry’s office as county judge in 1933 was located, but also the “Summer White House” of Harry and Bess Truman. It was at this home on June 24, 1950, that Harry was informed South Korea had been invaded.
After the Truman Library, it is a short jaunt over to the Bingham- Waggoner Estate. Built in 1852, owned by George Caleb Bingham, artist and politician, and later William Waggoner, this 26-room Victorian is a treasure. Beginning in the Carriage House/Gift Shop, tour guides will take you into the 1900s where history comes to life among the original furniture, paintings and decor.
Finally, lunch will be served at the beautiful Kauffman Stadium Club, home of the Kansas City Royals. The Stadium Club's elegant 400-seat dining room features a breathtaking view of the playing field, the twelve-story scoreboard, the "Jumbo Tron", and the colorful water spectacular.
This tour takes guests to the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to World War I. Following the end of the First World War in 1918, the citizens of Kansas City were inspired to build a memorial in honor of those who had served in defense of liberty and our country. Local citizens raised $2.5 million dollars to design and construct the Liberty Memorial, which was formally opened in 1926. On October 28th, 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law legislation that formally designates Liberty Memorial as “America’s National World War I Museum.” This designation firmly establishes the Liberty Memorial Museum as “The Resource for World War I” in the United States.
The Museum features a world-class collection of historical objects and provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about the stories of WWI through the eyes of those who lived it. Standing watch over the Liberty Memorial are four carvings high atop the 217-ft. Memorial Tower, the Guardian Spirits that represent the high ideals of honor, courage, patriotism, and sacrifice. The tower elevator takes visitors up to the observation deck for a dramatic view of the Kansas City skyline.
Next it’s off to the Hallmark Visitor’s Center. Get an inside look at Hallmark’s story – from humble beginnings in 1910 with founder "Mr. J.C." Hall, to the creation of the world-famous Hallmark greeting cards and Keepsake Ornaments. Interactive displays and fascinating exhibits make the tour fun for everyone.
Finally it’s off for lunch at the Webster House. This beautiful restaurant and retail space is housed in an historic old school house near downtown Kansas City. This space was painstakingly renovated to its majestic present. Webster House houses three separate entities with ease, grandeur and beauty. Antiques -- European, Oriental & American Fine Arts, Furniture & Accessories c. 1650-1850 ~ Design — Classic Designs for Home & Office by Joe Haas ~ Unique Decorative Accessories & Gifts.
