STRAWBERRY HILL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER

DESCRIPTION: Originally a Victorian home built in 1887, the Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center now promotes, sponsors and preserves the Slavic ethnic heritage prevalent in Kansas City, KS, with a wide variety of culturally relevant exhibits and artifacts.

ADDRESS: 720 N. 4th St. Kansas City, KS 66101

LOCATION: In the historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood of downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

PHONE: 913-371-3264

WEBSITE: www.strawberryhillmuseum.org

HIGHLIGHTS:

• More than 30 rooms of unique displays are present in the museum. Permanent exhibits honor the heritage of countries such as Croatia, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and Russia with books, pictures, toys and much more.
• The Hall of Immigrants exhibit displays pictures and ancestral artifacts from the families that settled in this area in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
• The Pope’s Bed exhibit features the bed and other items used by Pope John Paul II during his TWA “Shepherd I” flights to America in 1979, 1987 and 1995.
• The Strawberry Hill Tea Room, open every first Saturday and Sunday of the month (except October and February), allows guests to sample a cultural variety of authentic desserts with tea and coffee.

HOURS: Tours on the hour at 12, 1, 2 and 3. Sat and Sun Only. Closed Holidays 

ADMISSION: Adults $10, children ages 6-12 $5, children under 6 free.

HISTORY: Built in 1887 on a hillside in the aptly named Strawberry Hill neighborhood of downtown Kansas City, KS, the museum was once the home of John and Mary Scroggs. The property, considered to be the most outstanding example of Queen Anne-style architecture in the area, was occupied by the family for 32 years. Following an influenza epidemic and sale of the Scroggs family home, the Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King purchased the house in 1919, with plans to open a local orphanage for children of abandoned by the raging illness. Closed in 1988 due to “changing social needs,” the property was then acquired by the Strawberry Hill Ethnic Cultural Society, a group of residents, including leader Msgr. John W. Horvat, who feared that the home would be destroyed. Today, the Strawberry Hill Museum is a testament to the people of the KCK neighborhood and their proud ethnic heritage.

WHAT’S NEARBY: Downtown Kansas City, MO, is less than 10 minutes away.

ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: The Strawberry Hill Museum comes alive during the holiday season for our Olde World Christmas, as the home is filled with beautiful decorations and thousands of lights.  The ethnic exhibits highlight the holiday celebrations of Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovenia, Netherlands, Russia, Ireland, African American, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Denmark and Belgium.

DID YOU KNOW: A celebration of the museum’s previous life was as a Catholic orphanage, the sisters living quarters, sister’s prayer chapel and day care center

GROUP TOURS: Day or evening tours during the week for parties of 20 or more can be arranged by calling the museum at 913-371-3264.  Rental of the Tom Tomasic Hall, Chapel and the Tea Room  are available: contact the museum 913-371-3264 or check the website.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take the Metro to 345 James St. NB.

PARKING: Street parking is available in front of the museum on 4^th St. Handicap access is available from the St. John’s church lot (between 4^th & 5^th on Barnett Ave.-one way going east from 5th Street) museum entrance is located across the bridge and around the front of the building without steps.

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: JoBeth Nastav – shecs@strawberryhillmuseum.org or 913-371-3264