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TransportationWelcome to Kansas City, I hope you enjoy your time here. As you visit the metro area today, it is hard to imagine that this was once a tiny settlement on the edge of the frontier. The area first started to grow as settlers began moving to the West in the 1800s and has continued to thrive as a result of our central location and ease of access to all forms of transportation. So whether you’re interested in frontier trails and the “Old West,” railroads or even air travel, you’ll discover many unique attractions here that educate and entertain. Another key element in the region’s growth that is often overlooked is the role of the Missouri River. At one time, the river was the main link between the frontier and the rest of the country. It was essentially the highway of the 1800’s, bringing settlers and supplies from the East to establish farms and new settlements. From the beginning, the Missouri River played an important part in the growth of the Kansas City area. In 1804, the Lewis & Clark expedition camped at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. Known as Kaw Point, this site is now open to visitors as a park. When the settlement of Westport was built along the Santa Fe Trail in the early 1830’s, a landing was soon needed to accommodate merchandise being brought upriver on steamboats. These boats would offload supplies near the present-day location of the City Market, where their cargo would be loaded onto wagons for the trip south to Westport and eventually onto the westward wagon trains. You can still visit Westport, site of Kansas City’s oldest building – now the site of Kelly’s Irish Pub – which was once a provisioning house for wagons setting out on the trails. The City Market also continues to thrive with a number of restaurants shops and a farmer’s market on weekends. Reaching Kansas City by river was often a dangerous prospect; as passengers aboard the Steamboat Arabia discovered in 1856. One of hundreds of boats that piled the Missouri in the 1800’s, the Arabia left St. Louis loaded with freight and settlers seeking a new life on the frontier. The steamer was to unload cargo at towns above Kansas City, but struck a tree snag and sank just 10 miles upriver from the city. Luckily, all of the passengers were rescued, but over 200 tons of supplies were lost. Today, it is difficult to appreciate the devastating impact that the loss of a load of supplies had on a small river town. It could take months for another boat to resupply the cargo lost on a steamer. Sadly, this was a common occurrence and the Missouri claimed over 300 steamboats. Over time, the river changed course, leaving the boat buried beneath a cornfield. The legend of the lost Arabia was not forgotten, but it wasn’t until 1989 the boat was uncovered that the truly amazing nature of the cargo was fully understood. Nearly every aspect of frontier life is represented in the cargo—tools, clothing, fine china, even pickles and blueberries! The cargo was so remarkable that we were inspired to create a museum to share it with the community. The treasures are now on display at the Arabia Steamboat Museum in the City Market, just blocks from the old river landing. Eventually, the heyday of steamboats on the Missouri River faded as the building of railroads provided a quicker and more direct route to the West. Kansas City got a great boost with the opening of the first railroad bridge across the Missouri River in 1869. There was strong competition among local communities to have this bridge built in their town because civic leaders and citizens knew that growth was sure to follow in the railroad’s path. They were certainly right and Kansas City is now the country’s second largest rail freight hub. Today, you’ll see a multitude of train tracks, bridges and highways. Also, be sure to take advantage of our many museums and attractions that highlight transportation and the expansion of the West. You can relive the days of the Pony Express, Jesse James and the pioneers all within a short drive of Kansas City. Or, learn about how air travel has created a globalization of the world. These transportation related sites and museums will help you imagine the hopes and dreams of those that have traveled before you and anticipate where we will go in the future, Enjoy! Article By:  Photos, artifacts, uniforms, instrumentation, logbooks and personal mementos.
 Wood-frame, Gothic Revival cottage was the site of Amelia's birth on July 24, 1897.
 The museum exhibits an outdoor collection of rail cars, locomotive and rolling stock from the old Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.
 Take a ride back through time on a 1920s era passenger coach, open-air excursion car of 1950s diesel locomotive through Old Towne Belton and the surrounding area.
 Ride a restored antique Parker Carousel and tour the museum dedicated to the "Carnival King."
 This historic area offers eateries, antiques, art galleries and shops.
 Your tour experience begins with an introductory video. Then it's on to the factory floor where you'll witness a wide range of operations from welding, laser-cutting and frame-bending, to polishing and assembly. You'll see fenders and gas tanks being formed, newly painted frames hanging on the line, and sophisticated robotic welding technology. You'll also see the Revolution® powertrain assembled from crankcase to cylinder heads.
This one-of-a-kind facility is located in Hutchinson (KS), which is not in the Kansas City metro area. This is a day trip destination, which can be easily accessed from Overland Park within a day. At the Cosmosphere, visitors hear the non-biased, definitive story of the Space Race. With a U.S. space artifact collection second only to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the largest collection of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow, the Hall of Space Museum is known by space enthusiasts worldwide.
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