CITY OF FOUNTAINS
Fountains of Kansas City
Kansas City is said to be the home of more fountains than any city in the world except Rome. However, it is not only the number of exquisite fountains that makes the city so unique, it is the craftsmanship, artistry, imagination, and presentation of these celebrations of water. Many of the most famous fountains are located on the Country Club Plaza, but you will find a virtually endless array on both private and public properties throughout the city. Just a few of the major attractions are described here. For more information, contact the City of Fountains foundation:
City of Fountains Foundation
Kansas City, MO
816-842-2299
Boy and Frog Fountain
Nichols Road and Central
Purchased in 1929 in Florence, Italy, this fountain has earned a reputation for impressing and amusing visitors to the Plaza. A young boy is delighted and surprised by a shower from the friendly bronze frog.
The Children’s Fountain
North Oak Trafficway & Missouri 9
Look no further for the "fountain of youth." The massive piece of artwork features six bronze sculptures of children playing in the water. The statues were placed by the artist over a basin that measures 60 feet by 100 feet.
Crown Center Fountains on the Square
Hallmark’s Crown Center
North of Westport
Renowned as one of the most spectacular of the water displays, the fountain serves as a centerpiece for the entire complex. Occupying a full 200 square feet, the fountain area consists of a cobblestone-paved surface with no visible sign of nozzles or hoses. Water soars from "the fountains" as far as 30 feet into the air and feature colorful lights at night.
The Firefighters Fountain
North of Country Club Plaza
31st Street & Broadway
Distinguished as one of the city’s larger fountains, it boasts an 80-foot diameter basin that holds 76,000 gallons of water.
J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain
Country Club Plaza
47th Street & Nichols Parkway
One of the city’s signature fountains depicts four equestrian figures that represent a famous river of the world. Water sprays 30 feet from the center.
The Muse of Missouri
Downtown Kansas City
Based on classical mythology, this creation of artist Wheeler Williams personifies the spirit of a goddess bestowing her guidance on the Missouri River. The nine fish netted by the muse feature bluefish heads, since the artist considered native catfish as "too ugly."
Neptune Fountain
47th and Wornall
Miller Nichols purchased the 8,000- pound cast lead fountain for its weight in scrap metal from a Kansas City dealer. Installed in the 1950s, the god of the sea moves in his chariot pulled by three mythological sea horses.
The Vietnam Veterans Fountain
Broadway south of Westport
Dedicated in 1986 to Vietnam War veterans, the fountain gives a special salute to the veterans from the Kansas City area. A memorial wall holds the names of 336 area soldiers killed or missing in action.
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS / AMUSEMENTS
Arabia Steamboat Museum
400 Grand Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
816-471-1856
Camp Snoopy
Worlds of Fun
4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue
Kansas City, MO
816-454-4545
Children's Museum of Kansas City
4601 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS
913-287-8888
Children's Peace Pavilion
1001 West Walnut
Independence, MO
816-521-3033
Crown Center Ice Terrace
24th Street & Grand
Kansas City, MO
816-274-8411
Environment Learning Center
Mr. & Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library
4051 West Drive
Kansas City, KS
913-299-2384
Lanesfield School History Site
187th and Dillie Road
Edgerton, KS
913-893-6645
Missouri Town 1855
Lake Jacomo, Fleming Park
Blue Springs, MO
816-795-8200
Mound City Historic Park
700 Main Street
Mound City, KS
913-795-2202
Kaleidoscope
Hallmark Visitor's Center
Crown Center
Kansas City, MO
816-274-5672
Kansas City Fire Museum
1019 Cherry
Kansas City, MO
816-474-0200
Kansas City Museum
Union Square
3218 Gladstone
Kansas City, MO
816-483-8300
Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Bonner Springs, KS
800-373-0357
1950s All-Electric House
6305 Lackman
Shawnee, KS
913-631-6709
Oceans of Fun
4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue
Kansas City, MO
816-454-4545
Old Shawnee Town
Cody Street
Shawnee, KS
913-248-2360
Sprint IMAX Theatre
Kansas City Zoo
6700 Zoo Drive
Kansas City, MO
816-513-IMAX
Supersplash USA
53rd Place & Raytown Road
Raytown, MO
816-356-5300
Toy & Miniature Museum
5235 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO
816-333-2055
Wonderscope Children's Museum
5705 Flint
Shawnee Mission, KS
913-268-4176
www.artsnoboundaries.org/wondrscp.html
Worlds of Fun
4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue
Kansas City, MO
816-454-4545
Big Shot Amusement Park
954 State Road Y
Linn Creek, MO 573-346-6111
Big Surf Water Park
Hwy 54 and State Rd Y
Linn Creek, MO 573-346-6111
Lake of the Ozarks Waterpark
954 State Road Y
Linn Creek, MO 573-346-6111
Sunset Zoo
2333 Oak Street
Manhattan, KS 785-587- 2737
Topeka Zoo
635 SW Gage Boulevard
Topeka, KS 785-368-9131
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS / EXPLORATION
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
13800 Switzer Road
Overland Park, KS
913-897-2360
www.opkansas.org/_Vis/Farmstead/index.cfm
American Royal
1701 American Royal Court
Kansas City, MO
816-221-9800
Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center
4750 Troost Avenue
Kansas City, MO
816-759-7300
www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/kcmetro/discovery
Benjamin Ranch
6401 E. 87th Street
Kansas City, MO
816-761-5055
Blue River Parkway
119th Terrace & Holmes Road
Kansas City, MO
816-795-8200
Buffalo Track Nature Trail
Kanopolis State Park
Marquette, KS
785-546-2565
Burr Oak Woods Nature Center
One mile north of I-70 East
Blue Springs, MO
816-228-3766
The Butterfly House
Milford Nature Center
3115 Hatchery Drive
Junction City, KS
785-238-LEAF
Cave Spring Nature Center
8701 E. Gregory Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
816-358-CAVE
Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center
4909 North K-7 Highway
Olathe, KS
913-764-7759
George Owens Nature Park
1601 Speck Road
Independence, MO
816-325-7384
Helen Cuddy Memorial Rose Garden & Memorial Arboretum
Antioch Park
6501 Antioch Road
Merriam, KS
Kansas City Zoo
6700 Zoo Drive
Kansas City, MO
816-513-5700
Kemper Outdoor Education Center
Fleming Park
Woods Chapel Road
Blue Springs, MO
816-229-8980
Lakeside Nature Center
4701 East Gregory Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
816-513-8960
Legler Barn Museum
14907 W. 87th Street Parkway
Lenexa, KS
913-492-0038
www.idir.net/~lhskc/barnpage.html
Linda Hall Library Arboretum
5109 Cherry Street
Kansas City, MO
816-363-4600
Little Blue Trace Nature Preserve
Blue Mills Road
Jackson County, MO
816-795-8200
Loose Park & Rose Garden
Wornall and 51st Street
Kansas City, MO
816-513-7500
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
407 North Lafrenz Road
Liberty, MO
816-781-8598
Midland Railway Excursions
Baldwin City, KS 785-594-6982
Toll free 800-651-0388
Milford Nature Center
3115 Hatchery Drive
Junction City, KS
785-238-LEAF
Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure
Fleming Park
Woods Chapel Road
Blue Springs, MO
816-795-8200
Oak Ridge Farm
7440 Ogg Road
Shawnee, KS
913-831-3355
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
8500 Santa Fe Drive
Overland Park, KS
913-895-6200
www.opkansas.org/_Vis/Arboretum
Powell Gardens
1609 NW US Highway 50
Kingsville, MO
816-697-2600
Science City at Union Station
Union Station
30 West Pershing Road
Kansas City, MO
816-460-2222
Shoal Creek Living History Museum
Hodge Park
7000 NE Barry Road
Kansas City, MO
816-792-2655
Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Highway 159 South
Mound City, MO
660-442-3187
http://midwest.fws.gov/squawcreek
Stanley Nature Park
8295 W. 159th Street
Stillwell, KS
913-831-3355
Strawberry Hill Museum & Cultural Center
720 North 4th Street
Kansas City, KS
913-371-3264
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS / KIDS & CULTURAL
AileyCamp
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey
218 Delaware
Kansas City, MO
816-471-6003
Children's Performing Theatre
Roger T. Sermon Center
Independence, MO
816-325-7367
The Culture House Academy of the Performing Arts
7200 West 106th Street
Overland Park, KS
913-648-0333
The Coterie Theatre
2450 Grand Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
816-474-6552
Family Series at The Lied
University of Kansas
1600 Stewart Drive
Lawrence, KS 785-864-3469
Tickets 785-864-2787
Folly Theater Children’s Series
300 W. 12th Street
Kansas City, MO
816-474-4444
Kansas City Young Audiences
4601 Madison Avenue
Kansas City, MO
816-531-4022
Lyric Opera Summer Camp
1029 Central
Kansas City, MO
816-471-4933
Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company
9601 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS
816-942-7576
Music Theatre for Young People of Kansas City
8333 Hallet
Lenexa, KS
913-341-8156
Mystery Comedy
Performance Locations Vary
Kansas City, MO
816-505-5999
Nearly Normal Magic and Puppets
Performance Locations Vary
Kansas City, KS
913-962-4045
Paul Mesner Puppets
1006 Linwood Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
816-235-6222
Piccadilly Productions Puppetry
11513 Minor Drive
Kansas City, MO
816-942-5552
Puppetry Arts Institute
11025 E. Winner Road
Independence, MO
816-833-9777
Theatre for Young America
5909 Johnson Drive
Mission, KS
913-831-2131
Youth & Family Programs
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO
816-751-1ART
Youth Symphony Association of Kansas City
Performance Locations Vary
Kansas City, KS
913-722-6810
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS / QUICKLINKS
Birdwatching Guide
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Discovery School
Disney & Disneyland
Fun Riddles
Garfield & Friends
Kids Gardening
National Geographic Kids
www.nationalgeographic.com/kids
Online Educational Games
PBS Kids