Clio Logo

Central Library, Kansas City Public Library

Zone 5 of 6: First Floor

You are vieweing item 12 of 17 in this tour.

This is a contributing entry for Central Library, Kansas City Public Library and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.

This exhibit on the history of First National Bank was located on the north end of Kirk Hall, across from the book return area from 2004 until 2022. The exhibit included early photos of the building and biographies of bank leaders, including the first president, Col. James L. Abernathy. Given the exhibit's value and the interest of local residents in learning more about the early history of this building, it has been added as a contributing entry within this virtual tour of the library.


Bronze door detail. Central Library, 10th & Baltimore.

Creative arts, Building, Wood, Art

Ceiling detail in Kirk Hall, formerly the bank lobby.

Creative arts, Facade, Art, Symmetry

First National Bank lobby, early 1900s.

Shelf, Building, Interior design, Shelving

Moving beyond Kirk Hall, the décor becomes noticeably more modern. The north wing of the first floor is home to the Genevieve Guldner Gallery and OneNorth Technology Center. The Guldner Gallery is host to various local and traveling art exhibitions throughout the year, as is the Rocky and Gabriella Mountain Gallery on the mezzanine level.

Adler, Eric. Vision Turns a Bank into a Grand Library. The Kansas City Star, January 4, 2004, 1A.

The Kansas City Public Library. “Library District, Kansas City, Walking Tour Guide,” Accessed November 5, 2020. https://www.kclibrary.org/sites/default/files/docs/walkingtour.pdf

“The First National Bank Building.” The Architect and Builder 21, no.2 (Feb. 1906): 17.