Homegrown KC: Recent Episodes
Laura Darnell
A podcast dedicated exploring Kansas City's fascinating history and to sharing stories from its rich past.
Every episode will delve into a person, place, or event from Kansas City’s multi-hued historical narrative.
Be sure to listen and subscribe, rate and review wherever you listen, but especially on Apple Podcasts.
For more information you can visit my website.
I am also on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter as Homegrown KC. And I have a Youtube Channel.
You can also find me on Audea. Go to https://audea.io/, create a free account, and then search for and subscribe to Homegrown KC.
Subscribe to Patreon or Redcircle. Subscribers will receive exclusive access to bonus interviews with other local historians, a shoutout on the show, and an item from Homegrown_KC_Store valued at $5 or less.
One time donations are possible at Redcircle.com/homegrownkc, or Ko-Fi.
Visit the Merch store for some cool swag like hats, shirts, beer glasses, and tote bags, all featuring the show's awesome hand-drawn logo, created by my sister-in-law, Sarah McCombs.
Thank you to Sarah McCombs for creating my logo; the Dear Misses for the use of their song Kansas City as the intro and outro music of the show; to local libraries; and you, my listeners.
Cheers!
Conversation with Stuart Hinds of the Gay and Lesbian Archives of Mid America in Kansas City.
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Farewell episode
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Sensitivity Warning: I don't get graphic but there are mentions of violence and rape in my discussion of banned books at the beginning of this episode.
Series 8: We The People Topic 3: Kansas City Public Library
A very, brief overview of the history of the Kansas City Public Library System from 1873 to 2024
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Join me on an Adventure to the Disney 100 exhibit at Union Station
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Join me on an Adventure to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.
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I took a hike through Merriam, KS with Urban Hikes KC!
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The Post Presidential Years of Harry S. Truman 1953-1972.
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Series 8: 2024 We the People
This episode tells the story of Truman's time as Senator.
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Season 8 2024: We the People Topic 2 part 2
The life of Harry S Truman from 1920- 1934.
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Sensitivity Warning: introduction does include brief mention of genocide and public shootings.
Series 8 We The People Topic 2
Biography of Harry S Truman from birth to marriage.
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Series 8 2024:We The People Topic 1
A look at the Presidential National Conventions hosted in KC: RNC in 1900, DNC in 1928, and RNC in 1976.
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A look back at what was accomplished in 2023, and a glimpse of what is coming in 2024.
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My friend and I took an Adventure to the Kansas City Museum in Oct.
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A brief look at the history and collection of the Lee's Summit Historical Museum.
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Sensitivity Warning: Episode discusses historical and modern events related to war, terrorism, genocide, and death.
I finally visited the Truman Presidential Library and Museum. This is a world class museum in Independence, MO. I highly recommend a visit to this Museum, because of how well they handle difficult and traumatic moments from our past.
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Kansas City has a brand new Aquarium at the Zoo and it's incredible!
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I had two football related Adventures this month, so I decided to discuss them both in a Minisode! The first was the Chiefs Practice in St. Jo, the second, was an unexpected invitation to attend the Chiefs vs Browns Preseason Game at Arrowhead on Aug 27, 2023. My first Game at Arrowhead!
Also listen to episode Chiefs from Series 1 to learn about the history of the Team.
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Series 7 Amusement Parks Topic 3
History of Cedar Fair, Oceans of Fun, and Geology!
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Topic 3 part 3 of Series 7 Amusement Parks
A detailed look at the design, construction, and history of some of WoF's most beloved rides: Timberwolf, Mamba, Orient Express, Schussboomer, EXT, and Ski Hi.
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A minute look at the changes Worlds of Fun has experienced from 1973 to 2023.
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I took an Adventure to the new Spider-Man exhibit at Union Station. It was so cool!
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KC has a new self-guided driving tour of queer history. I didn't complete the tour, yet, but here are my thoughts to the first portion.
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Series 7 Amusement Parks Topic 3
Worlds of Fun opened in May 1973, making 2023 its 50th Anniversary.
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Series 7 Amusement Parks Topic 2
The history of Fairyland Park in KC from 1923 to 1977.
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Conversation with Joel Barrett, creator of KC's new self guided driving tour of queer history.
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Series 7 Topic 1
The history of Kansas City's Electric Park, 1900-1934.
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Series 6 Topic 3 part 3
The Folly Theatre in KC from the 1940s to 2023
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The history of the Shubert's Missouri Theatre (formerly The Standard and the Century) from 1923 to 1932.
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An introduction to the Johnson County Museum
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Series 6 Historic Theatres Topic 3 part 1 The Century Theatre:
This episode covers the origins of the Folly Theatre and provides historical context on competing burlesque circuits in the early 1900s.
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2022 Recap and 2023 Goals
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Minisode of my Adventure to the Mayan exhibit at Union Station
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The history of the Gillis Opera House: 1883-1925
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The history of the Coates Opera House from 1870-1901.
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Adventure Minisode: Historic Northeast Urban Hike with Urban Hikes KC
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the history of Sullivan & Considine Vaudeville Circuit, owners of the Empress Theatre
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Adventure to KC Japan Festival Oct 2022
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Adventure through the American Art Deco: Designing for the People 1918-1939 exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
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Conversation with Archaeologist Dr. Ann Raab about her work in Bates County Missouri.
There is a sensitivity warning for mentions of war and violence.
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Topic 1 of Series 6: Historic Theatres
Originally built in 1910 for the Sullivan & Considine Vaudeville Circuit, the theatre hosted vaudeville and burlesque variety shows until its demise in 1940.
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Homegrown KC Adventure to the Harris-Kearney House in Westport, home of the Westport Historical Society and the Civil War Visitor's Center.
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The 43rd Annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival of 2022
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Homegrown Kc Adventure to the Wyandotte County Museum in Bonner Springs, KS
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Homegrown KC Adventure to the Zoo
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I took an adventure with owner and founder of Urban Hikes KC, Lisa Pena through Strawberry Hill and Downtown KCK!
Well researched history of the area, stunning views and beautiful architecture and murals, a chance to meet cool new people, and work out.
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Hear the story of the Wyandots from 2nd Chief Louisa Libby of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas.
There is a sensitivity warning for this episode.
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Hear the story of the Wyandots from 2nd Chief Louisa Libby of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas.
There is a sensitivity warning for this episode.
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Topic 3 of Series 5 People of the Island
This episode concludes the history of the Wyandotte National Burial Ground, and concludes this series.
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Topic 3 of Series 5 People of the Island
The story of the Wyandotte National Burial Ground begins...
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Series 5 People of the Island, Topic 2 The Long Journey part 2
The history of the Wyandots from 1843 to present.
There is a sensitivity warning for this episode
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Series 5 People of the Island, Topic 2 The Long Journey part 1
The history of the Wyandot people after continued contact with settlers.
There is a sensitivity warning for this epsiode.
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Topic 1 of Series 5: People of the Island.
An overview of western European and American interactions with and policies concerning indigenous groups. And a discussion of the Evil -Isms: Imperialism and Colonialism.
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My thoughts and reactions after visiting the traveling exhibit Auschwitz Not Long Ago Not Far Away at Union Station in KC.
There is a trigger warning for this episode.
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New special exhibit by the Johnson County Museum: Redlined: Cities, Suburbs, and Segregation; with Curator of Interpretation Andrew Gustafson.
There is a sensitivity warning for this episode.
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Conclusion to Topic 3 of Series 4, and the conclusion of series 4: Treasures of Kansas City.
This episode explores the history of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art from the mid-90s to 2022.
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an audio version of #homegrownkcadventure: the Negro League Baseball Museum
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This episode examines the history of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in the '80s and '90s.
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2021 Year in Review
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An exploration of the Museum's history during the 1960s and 1970s.
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The history of the Museum during the 1940s and 50s and the men and women involved.
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Biographical narration of the lives of Laurence Sickman, Paul Gardner, and Langdon Warner who helped shape the Museum's policies and collections in the 1930s, and their work as Monuments Men during WWII.
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A description and analysis of the architecture of the Nelson-Atkins Museum building and introduction to some of its earlies history.
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How the Nelson family estates and the Atkins estate came together to create a single art museum, and the initial planning and design of the museum.
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The biographies of Mary Atkins, William Rockhill Nelson, Ida Nelson, Laura Nelson Kirkwood, and Irwin Kirkwood.
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The History of the Plaza from the 1950s to today.
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The history of the Country Club Plaza from 1920-1950.
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The biography of Jesse Clyde Nichols, real estate mogul of KC in the early 20th century.
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The history of the Western Auto Building in KC from the 1950s to present.
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The history of the Western Auto Building from its creation in 1915 to 1951, and its close history to the founder of the Coca-Cola.
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Christmas Joy in Kansas City in 2020
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This episode briefly examines the history of the KKK in KC in the 1920s and lynching in KC.
There is a trigger warning for this episode.
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This episode focuses on memorialization of the Confederacy and its symbols.
There is a sensitivity warning for this episode.
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A brief examination of two stories from the Civil Rights Period in Kansas City: the desegregation of the Swope Park Swimming Pool and riots following the death of MLK.
There is a sensitivity warning for this episode.
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We all know what the Troost Divide is, but do you know how it came to be?
This new series will focus on stories related to racism and Civil Rights in KC. This episode will focus on the history of Redlining and other racist housing practices in KC's history.
There is a sensitivity warning for this episode.
Queen of the Redlight District in the early 1900s
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The end is come. Pendergast goes to prison and the Machine collapses.
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Pendergast's reign begins to crumble...
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Pendergast’s unchecked and surging power in KC and the nation lasted until 1932. But everything changed in KC with the onset of the Great Depression.
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With Tom Pendergast stepping into Big Jim’s shoes as Alderman of the First Ward, he is continuing his predecessor’s practice of supporting and defending the downtrodden while introducing his own methodologies and stratagems to build and empire and become “King of Kansas City, Emperor of Missouri”.[1]
[1] https://pendergastkc.org/collection/10553/shsmo-c0004-f04307-0001/ghosts-heart-america/34645
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Boss Tom was once the most powerful man in Kansas City and one of the most powerful in America. This is his origin story...
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Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933. Kansas City was known as a wide-open town during that time, meaning alcohol was still readily available.
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History of KC Jazz in the 1930s and 1940s.
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A brief history of the American Royal and the end of the stockyards in KC.
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A history of the Kansas City Stockyards and meatpacking industry.
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The history of the Kansas City Royals.
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The history of the Kansas City Chiefs football team
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Introduction to Homegrown KC, a podcast dedicated to exploring Kansas City's fascinating history and sharing stories from its rich past.
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