ADDRESS: 1722 E 17th Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64108
GENERAL LOCATION: 18th & Vine District
PHONE: 816-221-1600 / info@blackarchives.org
WEBSITE: https://blackarchives.org/
HOURS: Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays by appointment only
ADMISSION: Free
GROUPS: For larger groups we ask you to call/reserve ahead, so we can plan for your visit!
HIGHLIGHTS: The Black Archives in Kansas City celebrated its 50th year in preserving Black history in 2024! We are a nonprofit organization, serving as a community partner, resource institute, and an educational resource with a repository of African American documents and artifacts.
HISTORY: The Black Archives in Kansas City was formally realized in May of 1974. Our founder, Horace M. Peterson III, (1945-1992) began collecting and preserving African American artifacts as an adolescent, knowing that his mission was to save and record African American life and culture. The Black Archives initially located on 1821 Paseo, in the old YMCA building. In 1976, The Black Archives moved to Firehouse No.11. The building itself was a historic artifact as it was home to the first Black fire company in Kansas City. We moved to our lovely current home at 1722 East 17th Terrace, KCMO in 2012.
WHERE TO EAT: The Black Archives in Kansas City has its very own cafe, The Black Coffee Cafe, where guests can come in to eat and socialize. Other nearby places are Arthur’s Bryants, Gates & Sons barbeque, Soiree Steak and Oyster, Smaxx Restaurant, and The KC Juke House Blues & Jazz Bar/Restaurant.
WHAT'S NEARBY: The Historic 18th & Vine which features: Negro League Baseball Museum, American Jazz Museum, GEM Theater, and Zhou B Art Center. Other places nearby are: Urban Youth Academy, Gregg/Klice Community Center, and the Buck O'Neil Tribute Park.
ANNUAL/SPECIAL EVENTS: Annual events include the Women’s Empowerment Red Table Talk Luncheon, Annual Stop the Violence Basketball Tournament, The Black Archives Gala & Luncheon, and our partnership and support of JuneteenthKC.
DID YOU KNOW: The Black Archives in Kansas City develops and promotes with partners and programs that tell our realities as Black people in this society with our Rotating Gallery- where we rent out and reserve space for temporary exhibits in the Archives! The Rotating gallery is where people in the community can share the knowledge they have of Black History.
DON'T FORGET: We rent space for events in the community as well as have the ability to cater! Don't forget to support The Black Archives, to come often, and to bring friends!
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: RideKC has a bus stop right on 18th & Vine, by Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey
PARKING: The Black Archives has its very own parking lot, on 17th and Highland, shared with Urban Youth Academy