Early Kansas City

Images of America: Missouri

by Leigh Ann Little, John M. Olinskey

In 1821, Fran ois Chouteau set up a fur-trading outpost along the Missouri River, bringing the first settlement of Europeans to what would become Kansas City, named after the Kansa tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the area. At the center of a growing nation, the "City on the Bluff" would build and thrive as a river town, a gateway to the West, and a railroad hub, absorbing the influences of pioneers and immigrants traveling through or making it their home. Striving to become "A City Beautiful," its parks and boulevards drew attention from around the world. These are the beginnings of a town carved out of a hillside in the wilderness, transformed into an exciting metropolis that would eventually be called home by Walt Disney, Ernest Hemingway, Jesse James, and many others who left a lasting mark on history.

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2013

Reviews

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't keep away from early KC history and the photos.
Quick read of mostly pics from the 1800s and their descriptive captions.