Kemper arena

Kemper Arena: A Kansas City Icon

Presented By
Elizabeth Rosin

The latter half of the 20th century saw a boom in the construction of arenas as cities recognized the value of multipurpose venues. That included Kansas City’s Kemper Arena, which opened in 1974. Designed by renowned architect Helmut Jahn, the innovative structure in the city’s old stockyards district drew visitors by the thousands to sporting contests and performances. The 1976 Republican National Convention and 1988 NCAA basketball Final Four brought national attention and cemented the arena’s iconic status.

Historic preservationist Elizabeth Rosin discusses the architectural and cultural significance of Kemper Arena, its impact on the West Bottoms District, and her quest to list the venue on the National Register of Historic Places. The event is co-presented by the Historic West Bottoms Association in conjunction with its annual Heritage Week (May 5-12).

This event is co-sponsored by: Historic West Bottoms Association
Upcoming in this series:
9
Nov
Kansas City’s Little Italy Neighborhood: How the N...
Central Library |
2:00pm
Watch or Listen to Past Events in this Series:
10
Mar
Yes, We Can! Immigrant Women and Their Influence o...
Central Library |
2:00pm
21
Jun
Isaac Katz and Katz Drug Stores
Central Library |
4:00pm
16
May
Jim Bridger: Trailblazer of the American West
3:00pm
15
Jul
Jesse James and the Movies
Central Library |
2:00pm
Kemper arena

Kemper Arena: A Kansas City Icon

Date & Location
In Person