Friends of Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall

October lecture recognizes R.A. Long’s role in Kansas City’s urban personality

Historian Charlene Roise will join William Worley and William Wilson in a discussion about R.A. Long, George Kessler and J.C. Nichols and their impact as urban pioneers at an October 9 event at the Plaza Library.

Kessler, Long and Nichols: The City Beautiful, the City Ideal
Thursday, October 9 (6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. lecture)
Corinthian Hall Lecture Series, in the Truman Forum at the Plaza Library

History buffs and Kansas City Museum supporters will delight in an October 9 presentation at the beautiful new Truman Forum at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.

The presentation, “Kessler, Long and Nichols: The City Beautiful, the City Ideal,” examines the contributions of three giants of Kansas City history – architect George Kessler, Robert A. Long, businessman and philanthropist, and J.C. Nichols, Country Club Plaza planner and residential developer.

William Worley, self-described “public historian,” will examine the “City Beautiful” movement impact on the design of Longview, Washington, a town founded by R.A. Long.

These three men are credited with extraordinary contributions to the development of Kansas City’s physical, cultural and civic profiles. The event, co-sponsored by Kansas City Museum, will go in-depth with its discussion of Robert A. Long, whose mansion, Corinthian Hall, became the Kansas City Museum.

In this free lecture, you’ll learn about three of the city fathers who participated in “civilizing” Kansas City out of its rough pioneer beginnings, and took their urbanizing visions farther afield. Kessler, Long and Nichols all were intimately involved in planning an ideal worker’s community in Washington state, where Long’s lumber business was prospering. Three historians, Charlene Roise, William Worley and moderator William Wilson will embark on a discussion of the “City Beautiful” movement impact on the design of Longview, Washington.

This exciting event is free and open to the public. You are invited to join us before the lecture at a 6 p.m. reception. Please RSVP to the event now.