NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM

DESCRIPTION: Part of the Museums at the 18th & Vine complex, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum recreates the look, sounds and feel of the game’s storied past. Video presentations and memorabilia in the 10,000 square-foot multimedia exhibit chronicle the history and heroes of the leagues from their origin after the Civil War to their end in the 1960s. Since its founding, the NLBM has welcomed more than 2 million visitors and has become one of the most important cultural institutions in the world for its work to give voice to a once forgotten chapter of baseball and American history. In July 2006, the NLBM gained National Designation from the United States Congress earning the distinction of being “America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.”

LOCATION: In the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District.

PHONE: 816-221-1920

WEBSITE: www.nlbm.com

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The museum is laid out as a timeline of the Negro Leagues and American history. Exhibits include hundreds of photographs, historical artifacts and several interactive computer stations.
• As the centerpiece of the NLBM, the Coors Field of Legends features 10 life-sized bronze sculptures of Negro Leagues greats positioned on a mock baseball diamond as if they were playing a game.
• A documentary film narrated by actor James Earl Jones tells the story of the leagues with vintage film footage.
• The Hall of Fame Lockers pay tribute to the Negro Leaguers who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
• The museum store features officially-licensed Negro Leagues merchandise.

HOURS: Museum Gallery: Open 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Tue.-Thu., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun. Closed Monday.

ADMISSION: Adults $10 and children (under 12) $6. Seniors $9. Admission to the Horace M. Peterson III Visitor Center and the Changing Gallery is free of charge.

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: Collectively, the Museums at 18th & Vine average approximately 300,000 people annually.

HISTORY: The Negro Leagues were established in 1920 by Andrew “Rube” Foster in a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA. A site on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is located two blocks from the Museums at 18th & Vine. First functioning out of a one-room office, the NLBM eventually joined the American Jazz Museum in 1997 in a $20-million facility housing both entities.

WHERE TO EAT: The original Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue (1727 Brooklyn Ave.) is a few blocks to the east, along with Gates Bar-B-Q off of 12th and Brooklyn Ave.

ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Hall of Game - Held each June, the Hall of Game recognizes professional baseball players with awards named after Negro Leagues legends such as Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell and Josh Gibson.
• Jazz & Jackie - In 2016, the NLBM launched "Jazz & Jackie" to annually celebrate Jackie Robinson's Kansas City roots and his love of the musical art form, jazz, that got its soul in Kansas City. 
• Heart of America Hot Dog Festival - To celebrate the historical connection between our national pastime and the hot dog, the NLBM in partnership with Hy-Vee, Pepsi and Farmland established the festival in 2013 to rave reviews. The family-friendly activities include live entertainment, mascots, games, autograph sessions and trivia along with admission to the NLBM. The festival annually attracts more than 10,000 hot dog lovers.
• Salute to the Negro Leagues & Dressed to the Nines - Royals baseball fans annually put on their “Sunday Best” to watch a Royals game. The stylish event is now paired with the Royals annual “Salute to the Negro Leagues,” and has easily become the most fashionable day in baseball.

DID YOU KNOW: The NLBM has hosted various dignitaries including Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Maya Angelou, Colin Powell, Walter Cronkite and many more.

GROUP TOURS: Reservations are encouraged for groups of 25 or more. Reservations include a special introduction by museum staff and, if time permits, guided tour services. Contact the museum for more information.

PARKING: Parking is available near the museum. Visitors can park on either side of 18th Street, on the south side of "Buck" O'Neil Way (17th Street Terrace) or in public parking lots near Gregg Community Center (just north of the museums) at 18th and Woodland (one block east) or 18th & Vine (one half block west). Large buses for group tours should park and have passengers enter through the north entrance on "Buck" O'Neil Way or in the Parking lots at Gregg Community Center.

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Cathie Moss, special events/tour coordinator, 816-221-1920 or cmoss@nlbm.com.