#81 – The Battle of Westport Museum
6601 Swope Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64132
Cost: Free
Good for: Getting a refresher on your Civil War history
Tip: Visit other spots in the area – Starlight Theater and the Kansas City Zoo.
The Battle of Westport Museum depicts the experiences of the soldiers and civilians during the largest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. The three-day battle covered more than 25 square miles on the land that would eventually become Kansas City.
About The Battle of Westport Museum
The Battle of Westport Museum opened in 2008 to tell the story of the events leading up to and during the Battle of Westport.
From the museum, visitors can see the panoramic view where Union General, Samuel Curtis, constructed a defensive line stretching for ten miles along the banks of the Big Blue River. There are also artifacts, including bullets, currency and cannon balls found in the surrounding fields. There were also two images from the early 1900s of veterans of the battle meeting in Kansas City.
Despite the view and the beautiful old building, there’s not a lot to the museum. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, so if you’re looking for details, this is a good place to go. If not, I would skip the museum and follow the 32-mile self-guided tour that highlights the major sites of the Battle of Westport. One of the biggest sites took place at today’s Loose Park. The nearby John Wornall House also became a makeshift hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers during the battle.
The museum’s hours are extremely limited. They’re only open April through October, Thursday-Saturday from 1-5pm.
About the Battle of Westport
The Battle of Westport was the largest Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River. Some refer to it as “the Gettysburg of the West.” The battle covered more than 25 square miles during the three days in October 1864 and each side suffered more than 1,500 casualties.
The battle was the last major Confederate offensive west of the Mississippi River, as the United States Army maintained solid control over most of Missouri for the remainder of the war.
Stop by the Battle of Westport Museum for in depth information about the battle and its impact on Kansas City. xx, Libbie.
