


Their motto, "We are the ship, all else the sea," illustrated its relationship at the time with Major League Baseball. In 1920, the owner of the Chicago American Giants, Rube Foster, organized a meeting in Kansas City which resulted in the formation of the Negro National League. It looks at the contributions the leagues made to the history of athletics, as well as their contributions to the Civil Rights movement. The exhibit covers the entire history of the Negro Leagues from their beginning after the Civil War through their end in the 1960s. The museum is the centerpiece of historical renaissance of Negro Leagues Baseball throughout the nation. In the evenings, visitors can stop by the Blue Room, an actual jazz club which will feature contemporary Kansas City jazz artists. In addition to in-depth exhibits on such greats as Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Charlie Parker, the museum includes artifacts such as a Charlie Parker saxophone and a discovery room where visitors can listen to jazz performances. The museum's interactive exhibits tell the story of "America's classical music" in an entertaining and educational format. Robert Altman's 1996 film, "Kansas City," provided a look at this bustling period. Many of the musicians later moved on to New York and other cities where their fame mushroomed. Famous talents were often featured in the area including the George Lee Orchestra accompanied by his sister Julia Lee, Count Basie, Bennie Moten, and the incomparable Charlie "Yardbird" Parker.ĭuring the Depression, Kansas City prospered in many ways, and its reputation as being a "wide open" city attracted musicians who honed their craft in the dozens of clubs in the area. Kansas City's jazz legacy was nurtured in the 1920s and 1930s in the area around 18th & Vine.

The Jazz Museum is one of the first museums in the country devoted exclusively to this art form. This "who's who" of early jazz and baseball legends is highlighted in brilliant sight and sound with a dynamic look at Kansas City history. With the opening of the museums, Kansas Citians and visitors have the opportunity to get a first hand look at some of the greatest legends of jazz and baseball such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Lester Young, George and Julia Lee, Satchel Paige, James "Cool Papa" Bell, and Josh Gibson. The City of Kansas City, Missouri launched a $24 million project to pay tribute to the historical development of jazz and Negro Leagues Baseball. The Museums at 18th & Vine celebrate their grand opening on Septemin the area where baseball, jazz, and good times reigned as part of Kansas City's cultural life. Known throughout the world as trademarks of Kansas City, Negro Leagues Baseball and jazz music have been rekindled into brilliant reality with a massive revitalization of Kansas City's historic 18th & Vine district.
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The crack of a bat and the smooth melodies of a tenor sax bring back memories of what was once the heart of Kansas City culture. Peterson III Visitors Center, Kansas City, Experience Kansas City - Historic 18th & Vine District, American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Gem Theater Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Horace M.
