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Residents and visitors should call in advance to make sure that the observation deck is open. After passing through security and asking for directions to the observation deck, visitors will exit the elevator on the 28th floor and then climb the stairs to access the outdoor observation deck. At the time of this article's publication (November 2021) the observation deck has been closed to the public owing to the ongoing global pandemic.

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City Hall is 29-stories tall and offers an outdoor observation deck above the top floor that offers panoramic views of Kansas City. The tallest building in the city at the time of its construction, City Hall remains one of the tallest in the city and it is located at one of the highest points of the downtown area. When the observation deck is open, visitors and residents may request the opportunity to enjoy this view without charge.

City Hall Observation Deck

City Hall stands as a monument to Kansas City’s history in the early 20th century, a history that was dominated by the Pendergast family political machine. In 1880, Irish immigrant James Pendergast moved to Kansas City and used his gambling winnings to open a bar. That bar provided a chance to James Pendergast to make political connections, and those connections led to nine straight terms on the city council. The long-serving city councilman developed considerable influence, but that would pake in comparison to the informal network of power developed by his younger brother, Tom, who became chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Club. During their years of influence, the Pendergast brothers and political friends built a machine that controlled prosecutors and police through bribes, had ties to the mafia, and used the government to benefit their private businesses. The Pendergasts used patronage to reward their friends, and given the way that these funds flowed to neighborhood leaders and residents, many Kansas City residents continued to vote for James Pendergast and other politicians that were part of the Democratic political machine. Meanwhile, middle-class reformers and political rivals worked to expose the Pendergasts for political corruption. 1Even before the era of prohibition, Kansas City, Missouri flourished as a spot for taverns while neighboring Kansas City, Kansas saw statewide prohibition enacted in the 1880s. During the years when the Pendergasts exercised influence over the city, Kansas City police and civic officials all but ignored the federally imposed Prohibition resulting from the enactment of the 18th Amendment in 1919. Not only did James Pendergast's bars remain open, but Kansas City Missouri earned a reputation as a "wide-open town" as bars and jazz joints operated without fear of prohibition's enforcement. Kansas City's federal prosecutor was on Pendergast’s payroll, and reportedly, no one in Kansas City Missouri was ever arrested for violating the Volstead Act, the federal law meant to enforce the 18th Amendment.2In 1925, Tom Pendergast benefitted from a vote that changed Kansas City’s government as it went from 32 city councilors in two chambers to 12 council members in one chamber, led by a city manager. The Pendergast machine easily achieved a voting majority and subsequently appointed a weak city manager and the mayor who followed the wishes of Tom Pendergast in exchange for his support in each election.3During the Depression when President Roosevelt routinely provided funds to urban centers for city projects, Pendergast was able to gain more power and wealth through a ten-year plan he conceived building civic structures, most of which were were built with concrete supplied by Pendergast's Ready-Mixed Concrete company and other companies that provided kickbacks to Pendergast. One of those buildings was the City Hall tower that stands today.4Just as this building's tower was near completion, the Pendergast machine was coming to an end. Tom Pendergast pleaded guilty to tax evasion on May 24, 1939, partly due to the Federal Government’s actions towards cleaning up local political corruption.City Hall now offers tours that include a chance to view the city from the observation deck and a statue of Abraham Lincoln reading to his son Tad in the building's south plaza.

Located on a hill, this 29-story skyscraper includes an observation deck that offers some of the very best views in the city. Planning for the building began in 1931 following a special referendum in which Kansas City voters overwhelmingly approved the city's ten year plan for infrastructure and public works development. The building design was heavily influenced by city political boss Tom Pendergast, whose concrete company profited from the city contract, as did other construction firms connected to the Pendergast political machine. This building is not only one of the ten tallest buildings in Kansas City, it is the fourth-tallest city hall in the world.

It is important to understand that the symbolism depicted in these friezes represents a particular and arbitrarily narrow scope and interpretation of the history of Kansas City, Missouri. While some panels feature figures of Indigenous Peoples and Native Americans, the sculptural silence on the ancestral history of the Indigenous Peoples that inhabited this territory is deafening to the contemporary ear. Additionally, the characterization of the symbolism featured in the accompanying images of historic Kansas City Star articles may be uncomfortable for some to view. Unfortunately, it is beyond the scope of this entry to provide – or do justice to – the history of the Indigenous Peoples who occupied this territory long before the Spanish, French, or U.S. claimed to own this land, and who were forcibly dispossessed of their territory through the forces of colonization, disease, government treaty, and forced assimilation. However, links are provided below to numerous resources, please explore them to learn more.All of the carving work was done by a master stone carver, Ugo Lavaggio of New York, and his assistants. The carvings are located at the sixth-floor level, just before the seventh-floor setback where the building begins its vertical ascent. While the carvings are large enough to be viewed from the ground, this entry will provide explanations of the symbolism and several photographs of the detail.The South Face:The panels on the South face of City Hall were designed by C. P. Jennewein. These panels are meant to represent the political and social foundations of the City of Kansas City, Missouri. The central panel features an enthroned female embodiment of Kansas City. She is holding a sheaf of grain and the key to the City and agricultural products rest at her feet symbolizing the bountiful produce of the area.Adjacent South panels display other notable moments in the early history of Kansas City, such as Senator Thomas Hart Benton’s prophecy about the City’s future, the construction of the Hannibal Bridge – the first railroad bridge to span the Missouri River in 1868-1869 – and the departure of a Pony Express rider shortly before the Civil War. There is also a panel depicting the granting of the original charter for the City of Kansas in 1852. This panel features notable members of the charter party, including a descendant of Francois Choteau and Dr. Benoist Troost (Staff, The Kansas City Star). Dr. Troost has the infamous legacy of being an owner of enslaved persons, and his name continues to adorn a street regarded as a historic racial and economic line of segregation still present in the makeup of Kansas City, Missouri today.The North Face:The panels on the North face were designed by Walker Hancock to represent the industrial development of the City. The central motif is symbolic of the Santa Fe Trail communities, featuring an oxen driver and fur trader on the left to symbolize Independence, Missouri, and a wheelwright and Indigenous Person on the right to symbolize Westport. In the center stands a family symbolic of Kansas City; two frontier settlers with their child, all standing on a fasces symbolic of the foundation of law. The surrounding panels depict a field being plowed, cattle being herded, a riverboat fueling up at Westport Landing, and the development of the railroad.The East and West Faces:The East and West panels were designed by Ulric H. Ellerhusen. These panels are meant to be symbolic of “Early Settlement” and “The Coming of the White Man,” giving them the unfortunate distinction of containing the majority of unsavory imagery and interpretation. At the time these friezes were designed, the concept of “Manifest Destiny” was largely unchallenged and the predominant narrative of “Westward Expansion” was one of heroism and triumph over Nature. From a contemporary standpoint, it may be a more apt interpretation to read this imagery in terms of the colonial displacement of Indigenous Peoples, mass migrations of European immigrants displaced for any number of social, cultural, and religious reasons, and the orientation of early industrial capitalism and a burgeoning U.S. government toward expansion.

A stone tapestry featuring rich symbolism wraps the exterior of the 6th floor of City Hall. Each face of City Hall shows a series of carvings made directly into the Indiana limestone façade that stand 9 feet 6 inches tall and have a depth of 5 inches. There is a specific historical motif for each face with a prominent central panel and multiple supporting panels. The intricate symbolism of each panel was planned from April to August of 1936 and is the result of a combined effort of three artists. The panels represent the historical development of the modern City of Kansas City, Missouri.

City Hall Exterior Frieze Panels

City Hall was constructed as part of a joint bond program that included over $30 million worth of public works projects in the City of Kansas City, Missouri and Jackson County, Missouri. This bond program helped relieve the economic pressures of the Great Depression. The rotunda area features an engraved quote from Councilman A. N. Gossett (1861-1943) that reads: “The greatness of a city depends not alone upon great boundaries or a multitude of inhabitants but upon the probity and industry of its citizens.”Notably, Kansas City’s first City Manager H. F. McElroy – a political insider with close ties to the Pendergast Democratic Machine – subscribed to the belief that people would rather be given jobs than charity. This outlook, combined with the potential for federal funding through New Deal Era programs such as the Public Works Administration (PWA) and later the Works Progress Administration (WPA), led to City leaders creating many part-time jobs and investing heavily in local industry (McFerrin).It is estimated that 15,000 artists were out of work nationwide due to the economic impact of the Great Depression. Locally, the Pendergast political machine exercised tremendous influence in how WPA jobs were distributed. These two facts played a major role in the adornment of City Hall (Bean; City Hall, 12th Street | KC History). Additionally, promotional literature for the Ten Year Plan bond program heavily emphasized that $21 million would be added to local payrolls (Questions and Answers on the 10-Year Plan).The building contains over 11,000 cubic feet of marble with over 10,000 cubic feet sourced domestically. The North and South entrances feature Pyrenees marble from South West France and St. Genevieve Istrian from St. Genevieve, MO. The flooring of the South Vestibule is Travertine from Tivoli, Italy. The lobby walls are Campania Rose and the cornice is Hamil Rose both are from Knoxville, TN. The contrasting pilasters that divide and frame the marble paneling are German Rellante. Finally, the central motif in the floor of the rotunda is composed of Italian Levanto and Belgium Black marble (Your City Hall, 1937).The upper panels of the bronze elevator doors on the first and second floor feature intricate depictions of the four major modes of transportation in Kansas City: riverboat, automobile, train, and airplane. However, it would seem that the street car is conspicuously absent considering that the City had a network of over 800 street cars the decade prior (Staff, The Kansas City Star).Finally, the ceiling of the lobby features a burst of 20 stars. These stars also correspond to a decorative band of 20 discs on the exterior between the 27th and 28th floors. Both are memorials to the 20 original charter members of the Heart of America Astronomers &amp; Telescope Makers (Astronomical Club of KC). The memorials were designed by E.P. Turbell who was the chief draftsman for Wight and Wight – the architecture firm that designed City Hall, the Jackson County Courthouse, and other public buildings (Bean).

The Lobby is the grand entrance to City Hall that treats visitors to an impressive display of multi-colored marble and features numerous bronze adornments. While the majority of the building was designed for utility - with large windows for natural light and ventilation and office space described by promotional literature as, “plain, businesslike and unpretentious,” - the lobby and rotunda area on the first and second floor are a notable exception (Your City Hall, 1937). At the time of completion, this floor featured offices for the Water Department and City Treasurer, as these are City functions the public was expected to interact with most often. Therefore, City leaders such as City Manager H. F. McElroy worked closely with architecture firm Wight and Wight to design a lobby that is both functional and beautiful, possessing an aesthetic of grandeur.

1st Floor – Lobby/Rotunda

When it was constructed, the 26th Floor Council Chamber reflected a recent change to the City Charter. In 1925, a political reform movement was successful in altering the City Charter to change the legislative structure to a Council/Manager form of government (Your City Hall; McFerrin). This change is still reflected in the structure of the City’s government today as there is a 12-member council (6 in-district, 6 at-large) with the Mayor as presiding officer. The City Manager serves as the chief administrator of City operations and is responsible for the outcomes of all City departments and services.The Council Chamber features some impressive design and ornamentation. The walls have an Oak veneer paneling with antiqued white bronze arabesques as separators. Each of the 150 veneer panels rises, unbroken, twenty-one feet and ten inches from a wainscot of Verde Antique marble sourced from Vermont. At the time of construction, these panels represented one of the largest veneer jobs ever undertaken. In fact, the panels were so large that there were no veneer presses that could fit them, and each panel had to be worked by hand. Surprisingly, all of the panels are the product of a single, enormous Oak tree harvested in upstate New York (Your City Hall).In November of 1983 a fire in the ductwork and ventilation systems of the top several floors of City Hall caused damage to the Council Chamber resulting from a combination of smoke, water and debris. The veneer had to be stripped and resealed and all of the upholstery was professionally cleaned. At the time, Councilmember J. Harold Hamil advocated the full restoration of the Council Chamber and remarked, “It would be a tremendous loss to this city and future generations if that room . . . is not restored to its original status,” (Yablonski and Berg).Residents and members of the general public are welcome to attend sessions in the Council Chamber, and ample seating is provided on the 26th floor level as well as in the balcony above.

This is where the action happens. The Council Chamber is home to most of the legislative activity that takes place in City Hall. Committee meetings and full council session regularly take place in this ornately decorated, stately chamber. There are 13 desks for the Mayor and Councilmembers as well as an area for the City Clerk and staff. In addition, the chamber is updated for video and audio livestreaming as well as virtual communications for public comment.

26th Floor - Council Chamber

The South Plaza of City Hall has always been intended to be a space for the public in addition to offering a grand entrance for the building. The construction of the Plaza and the parking garage below was funded by a grant from the New Deal Era Public Works Administration (PWA). This grant represented a promised 40% match of Federal funding and amounted to $1.575 Million for the Plaza and an additional $164,827 for the parking garage.There are several notable sculptures featured on the Plaza. The oldest are the two sea-scape-themed fountains that flank the Plaza’s staircase. The large seahorse-shaped fountains were nicknamed “Lugs” and “Cuts” by City employees after their installation. These names refer to the “lugs” of the Pendergast political machine that both supported and profited from the construction of City Hall, and the “cuts” to wages workers experienced during the Great Depression.There are also two large lion sculptures that guard the South Entrance to City Hall. These statues were gifts to the City of Kansas City on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Taiwanese Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Shih-Cheng “Robert” Lui presented the statues to the City in December 1976 as a way to mark the U.S. Bicentennial (Carroll, The Kansas City Star). Vice Minister Lui was displaying his country's gratitude in honor of Kansas City’s “Republic of China Trade Show” that took place in the Spring of 1976. In their original cultural context, this type of lion statue is said to ward off evil spirits and bad fortune.Finally, there is a large bronze sculpture of President Abraham Lincoln and his son, Tad. This sculpture was a gift from Mr. Orville Anderson, a well-known local photographer and civic activist active in the 1940s political reform movement. The statue was installed and dedicated on the 15th of September, 1986. Mr. Anderson was 98 years old at that time, and he not only funded the creation of the statue, he also helped raise private funds for its base and an endowment for its care amounting to $200,000. The sculpture is the product of Mr. Lorenzo Ghiglieri of Portland, OR, who remarked at the dedication, "I was trying to show him as a caring and loving father . . . What's really important to the whole world is how we care for each other and how we care for the world."

South Plaza was the original front entrance of Kansas City, Missouri's City Hall, and served as the main entrance for the building until 2007. There are several fountains that border the steps to the entrance, as well as multiple statues, including a sculpture of President Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad. Visitors can also view large carvings on the exterior of the sixth floor from the South Plaza. The central motif of the South face features a symbolic figure of Kansas City personified and enthroned, with a sun-crest above her head and surrounded by representations of civic virtues such as Education, Law, Faith, and Public Spirit.

Kansas City Missouri City Hall and Observation Deck

City Hall Observation Deck

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Backstory and Context

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