About Kansas City - The City of Fountains

For many generations, several Indian tribes, including the Osage, Kansa and Wyandotte shared the land around Kansas City.

Kansas City played a major role in history as a gateway for pioneers heading West along the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails. In the mid-1800s, settlers, missionaries and traders began their overland journeys from several local points while the Town of Kansas was incorporated in 1850.

Railroads and livestock helped Kansas City establish itself as a booming business community, and jazz and barbeque set the tone for signature entertainment and food. Famous Kansas Citians include Harry S. Truman, Walt Disney, Jean Harlow, Thomas Hart Benton, Charlie "Bird" Parker, Ed Asner, Satchel Paige, Melissa Ethridge, Robert Altman, Oleta Adams, George Brett, Maurice Green, and Tom Watson.

With 160 fountains Kansas City ranks second in the world in number of fountains erected in the city. Only Rome, Italy, has more.

The conference hotel is close to the famous Union Station. http://www.unionstation.org/index.cfm Union Station is a Kansas City historical landmark built in 1914. The building features a 95-foot ceiling in the Grand Hall, three 3,500-pound chandeliers and a six-foot wide clock hanging in the Station's central arch. Union Station encompasses 850,000 square feet and originally featured 900 rooms. Beautifully restored in 1999, the Station today is a popular destination for the surrounding community as well as tourists. The complex is filled with restaurants, shops, theaters, traveling exhibits, special events and a science center called Science City. Union Station's Theater District has a 440-seat giant screen 2D & 3D movie theater, a domed planetarium theater and a live stage theater.

Just a short taxi ride from the conference hotel, the Country Club Plaza is Kansas City's premiere destination with over two dozen fine restaurants, 180 unique shops and an array of entertaining options; the plaza has something for everyone.

Several major companies have their origins or headquarters in Kansas City, including the Pony Express, Kansas City Savings Association (now known as Commerce Bancshares, Inc.), H&R Block, Inc., Russell Stover Candies, American Century Companies, Inc., Wolferman's, Burns & McDonnell Engineers-Architects-Consultants), Hallmark Cards, and Marion Laboratories (now Hoechst-Marion-Rousell). Today the city's colorful past is highlighted by an interesting mix of historical museums specializing in subjects such as outlaw Jesse James, President Harry S. Truman, the Oregon Trail, and Hallmark Cards.

Further information can be found at the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau web site http://www.visitkc.com/.