When the Kansas City Museum Advisory Board proposed a four-phase plan for restoration of the Museum in 2005, officials knew it would be an extreme home makeover of epic proportions in Kansas City. After all, Corinthian Hall is Kansas City’s original million-dollar mansion and a treasure trove of city history – not to mention the fact that it’s an architectural showplace.

As Corinthian Hall celebrates its centennial in 2010 with a dynamic series of lectures, programs, workshops and films (some on-site at the Museum and some at Union Station and other locations), massive restoration work continues. The City of Kansas City, Missouri implements Phase 3 of the restoration plan by updating HVAC and some mechanical infrastructure at the site, specifically in Corinthian Hall and the Carriage House. This important work will replace heating systems and introduce modern air handling equipment to allow energy-efficient operation of the Museum for years to come.

The City embarked on an ambitious program of restoration and rehabilitation at the three-acre, six-building Corinthian Hall estate in 2005. The City is investing significantly – $7.5 million dollars to date. The Museum’s manager, Union Station Kansas City, and our Friends of Kansas City Museum volunteer support group are collaborating with City colleagues to complete plans for rehabilitation and restoration at the site, and subsequent design and installation of all-new exhibits and complementary programs. Contribute to this worthwhile effort by joining the Friends.>>

Early restoration work at the Museum included:

Phase 1 – replaced and repaired the roof and masonry at Corinthian Hall. Completed in 2006.

Phase 2 – replaced all exterior windows and doors on Corinthian Hall and the Carriage House. Completed in 2009.

Planning is now underway for Phase 4, which includes the interior finishes of Corinthian Hall and the Carriage House. This work will commence after the mechanical infrastructure is completed, and when funding is in place to carry on. The Museum is conducting meetings for interpretive planning, and the Friends of Kansas City Museum is providing support for this long-term planning effort with funding and the participation of Friends board leadership. Learn more about the interpretative planning work. >>

This will likely be the most costly phase of the work because, as Museum Director Christopher Leitch points out, “everything is custom-made or specialized in some way. There’s nothing off-the-shelf about how a modern Museum functions.”