Kansas City City Hall
Encyclopedia
The City Hall of Kansas City, Missouri, is the official seat of government
for the city of Kansas City, Missouri
. It is a 29-story skyscraper located in downtown Kansas City
, and has an observation deck on the top of it. It is the fourth tallest city hall in the world, and the seventh tallest building in Kansas City.
The City Hall was built in 1937, under the influence of Tom Pendergast
(who owned a concrete company that built the city hall), the "political boss
" of Kansas City at the time. It was built to "counter" the effects of the great depression on Kansas City, and was part of a series of other government buildings, which include the Jackson County Courthouse. Both buildings were designed by Wight and Wight
.
The mayor's office is on the 29th floor and the City Council chamber is on the 26th floor. The City Hall is considered a "Beaux-Arts" style building, but has Art Deco
elements on the interior. The interior of the city hall is full of Italian gray, red, white, and green marble which lines the halls and the floors of the building. It was dedicated on October 25th, 1937 and required 20000 cubic feet (566.3 m³) of concrete, 7,800 tons of stone, 6,800 tons of steel and, as one newspaper put it, "a lake of paint" to build. One Kansas City Place
, the tallest building in Kansas City and the state of Missouri was built based as a tribute to the architectural style of City Hall.
Sculptures on the exterior of the building include those by C. Paul Jennewein
, Ulric Ellerhusen
and Walker Hancock
Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Government
The Municipal Government of Kansas City, Missouri is the largest municipal government in the state of Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. It employs over 2,000 people at all levels and consists of the Mayor of Kansas City and the city manager, the Kansas City City Council, and...
for the city of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. It is a 29-story skyscraper located in downtown Kansas City
Downtown Kansas City
Downtown Kansas City is the central business district of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It is located between the Missouri River in the north, to 31st Street in the south; and from the Kansas–Missouri state line east to Troost Avenue as defined by officials of the...
, and has an observation deck on the top of it. It is the fourth tallest city hall in the world, and the seventh tallest building in Kansas City.
The City Hall was built in 1937, under the influence of Tom Pendergast
Tom Pendergast
Thomas Joseph Pendergast controlled Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri as a political boss. "Boss Tom" Pendergast gave workers jobs and helped elect politicians during the Great Depression, becoming wealthy in the process.-Early years:Thomas Joseph Pendergast, also known to close friends as...
(who owned a concrete company that built the city hall), the "political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
" of Kansas City at the time. It was built to "counter" the effects of the great depression on Kansas City, and was part of a series of other government buildings, which include the Jackson County Courthouse. Both buildings were designed by Wight and Wight
Wight and Wight
Wight and Wight, known also as Wight & Wight, was an architecture firm in Kansas City, Missouri consisting of the brothers Thomas Wight and William Wight who designed several landmark buildings in Missouri and Kansas....
.
The mayor's office is on the 29th floor and the City Council chamber is on the 26th floor. The City Hall is considered a "Beaux-Arts" style building, but has Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
elements on the interior. The interior of the city hall is full of Italian gray, red, white, and green marble which lines the halls and the floors of the building. It was dedicated on October 25th, 1937 and required 20000 cubic feet (566.3 m³) of concrete, 7,800 tons of stone, 6,800 tons of steel and, as one newspaper put it, "a lake of paint" to build. One Kansas City Place
One Kansas City Place
One Kansas City Place is the tallest building located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, bounded by 12th Street to the north, Baltimore Avenue to the west, and Main Street to the east...
, the tallest building in Kansas City and the state of Missouri was built based as a tribute to the architectural style of City Hall.
Sculptures on the exterior of the building include those by C. Paul Jennewein
C. Paul Jennewein
Carl Paul Jennewein was a German-born American sculptor.-Early career:Jennewein was born in Stuttgart in Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1907....
, Ulric Ellerhusen
Ulric Ellerhusen
Ulric Henry Ellerhusen first name variously cited as Ulrich or Ulrik, surname sometimes cited as Ellerhousen) was a German-American sculptor and teacher best known for his architectural sculpture....
and Walker Hancock
Walker Hancock
Walker Kirtland Hancock was a 20th-century American sculptor and teacher. He created notable monumental sculptures, including the Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...