The Library District

Photo from eventective.com

Kansas City, Mo doesn’t just have a library, it has a “Downtown Library District”.  

For decades, what is now called The Library District, was a collection of land and building belonging to the First National Bank.

The centerpiece of the complex, on Baltimore and Tenth Street, was the bank’s headquarters.  

In 1999 First National Bank morphed for the umpteenth time and became the Bank of America.  Unflinchingly, the corporate powers decided to consolidate offices and move into Kansas City Place, a towering modern skyscraper in downtown Kansas City.

They felt that the historic neo-classical building on Baltimore Street required too much work to renovate and the building was abandoned.

In 2000 the library took up the challenge.  They raised $50 million to renovate and restore the building to its original beauty, including work on the marble interior, giant Ionic columns and double leaf bronze doors.  In 2004 the library opened its doors to the public to reveal a modern library in First National’s elegant skeleton.     

They were awarded a National Preservation Award for their incredible work and monumental effort.  I shudder to think of what might have happened without their commitment to the history and architecture of their city and am reminded, again, why libraries are considered the soul of our communities.