Museums Perfect for a Day Trip to Kansas City

Kansas City, which is the biggest city in the state of Missouri, is home to many and diverse museums that offer something of interest to everyone. To give you an idea of what kinds of museums you’ll find in the city, here are a few examples. 

Museum of Illusions 

At the Museum of Illusions, visitors are reminded that our perceptions of reality are often nothing more than an illusion. The museum is home to various exhibits, featuring scenarios that trick the senses, leaving visitors both entertained and thoroughly confused. Both adults and kids will find this museum fascinating, which makes it a great venue to spend some quality family time. 

To completely confuse your mind, step into the Vortex Tunnel, where you’ll find it difficult to put one foot in front of the other through a rotating cylinder when, in fact, you’re treading on a solid, flat surface. In the Infinity Room, which is a room that consists of full-height mirrors, the illusion of infinite space is created, and at the Head on the Platter exhibit, you can experience the illusion of a hidden body. Other mind-blowing exhibits include the Kaleidoscope, the Anti-Gravity Room, and various holograms. 

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures 

Back in 1982, the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City opened its doors with a small collection and only two full-time staff members. Over the next 30 years, the original 7,000-square-foot museum grew to 33,000 square feet to accommodate the ever-increasing collection that had increased to over 72,000 objects. In 2015, the museum was reopened as The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, which boasts the largest collection of fine-scale miniatures in the world, as well as one of the most extensive collections of antique toys. 

The miniature collection includes fascinating and intricately crafted objects that include a chandelier, a leather book, a tambour desk, a Baroque baby house, a gentleman’s tool chest, cowboy boots, and much more. In the toy section of the museum, you can view interesting exhibits such as a dollhouse from around 1910, the Old Woman and her Shoe from circa 1850, a toy soldier from the 1930s, and a swimming doll from around 1878. 

American Jazz Museum 

The American Jazz Museum is located in the 18th & Vine historic jazz district, which is internationally recognized as one of the birthplaces of jazz music. Jazz giants, such as Lester Young, Count Basie, and Charlie Parker, were spawned in this area. The museum pays homage to jazz through interactive exhibitions that include listening stations, interactive touch screens, and custom mixing boards, as well as through displays of artifacts, graphics, and commissioned artwork. 

Patrons can also enjoy jazz shows and theater productions at the Gem Theater, which is a restored performance venue that dates back all the way to 1912. Today, the theater is a modern 500-seat performing arts center that features the latest technology and equipment. 

These are only three of the many interesting museums you’ll find in Kansas City. Whether you’re into jazz, art, engineering, architecture, history, or science, Kansas City is home to a museum that will provide you with a few hours of amusement. 

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