Missouri Town 1855 in Kansas City serves as a living museum to the way things once were. Staffed with a full township of characters in authentic costumes, it provides a way for visitors of all ages to see how early Americans lived and worked. Seasonal celebrations also allow for traditional festivities to be showcased to the public.
Located in Fleming Park about 15 minutes east of Kansas City, Missouri Town 1855 is made up of 25 buildings from 1820 - 1860 that form a small town for touring. Animals and people go about daily life in the town and interact with guests in character. Demonstrations of how to weave, make soap, do blacksmithy and other day-to-day tasks are readily available.
Extremely family-friendly, Missouri Town 1855 makes it easy for children to learn about the past in a format that reviews show they find fascinating. Most things can be touched and played with so that they can be understood. The surrounding grounds also provide a good picnic stop and play area for families with children or pets.
Nearby Lake Jacomo provides fishing and sporting opportunities, which will allow guests to appreciate the Audobon Nature Center. The wildlife enclosure can also provide opportunities to see how native wildlife once roamed the area. Seeing the few building of the town area in the midst of the larger park makes it clear that the early pioneers were bravely a real wilderness when they came west.
Admission to the park is $5 for adults and $4 for children. Parking is free. The town is staffed seasonally, but generally open between April - October. A Children's Day is held in June with old-time games and activities for the younger set, including gunnysack races and a pie eating contest. For the older crowd, Old Missouri Days, a music festival with dancing and crafts, takes place in October as a season ending event and draws large crowds.
