100 W. 26th St. (near Union Station), Kansas City.

Phone 816-784-1918.
This World War I museum and monument, dedicated in 1926, contains extensive exhibits about a number of European and American individuals who fought and perished in the Great War. The collection includes photos, artwork and personal effects. The soaring memorial, with its observation tower and "Great Frieze" is a must-see for first-time visitors to Kansas City. Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm.,

American Jazz Museum

1616 E. 18th St., Kansas City. Phone 816-474-8463.
Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm.
Located in the historic 18th and Vine District, the heart of Kansas City's early jazz scene, the museum has a video jukebox, more than 100 recordings, artifacts and other exhibits devoted to such greats as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Arabia Steamboat Museum

400 Grand Ave., Kansas City.

Phone 816-471-4030.
The Arabia sank in the Missouri River in 1856. The river eventually changed course, and the vessel was left buried in a farm field. More than a century later the site was excavated, and steamboat enthusiasts found the boat and its cargo remarkably well preserved. The museum includes many of the ship's original parts and its cargo, including European glassware, firearms and tools. Monday-Saturday 10 am-5:30 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm.

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum

500 W. U.S. Highway 24 (at Delaware Street, about 10 miles from downtown Kansas City), Independence.

Toll-free 800-833-1225
One of the permanent exhibits reproduces Truman's Oval Office, including a Dumont television (Truman was the first president to have a TV in the White House). Truman's original "The Buck Stops Here" sign, given to him in 1945, is also on display. The library contains some 10 million papers, books and other historical documents relating to his life and administration. Monday-Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Thursday 9 am-9 pm..

Kansas City Museum

3218 Gladstone Blvd., Kansas City.

Phone 816-483-8300.
Located in a beaux-arts mansion from the early 1900s, the museum focuses on regional and natural history, including hands-on exhibits and dioramas about the city's history and climate. There's also a 1910 soda fountain and a planetarium. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Sunday noon-4:30 pm. Sky shows Friday at 1:30 pm, Saturday every 45 minutes 1-3:15 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City.

Phone 816-561-3737.
A wonderful modern building with contemporary sculpture, prints, paintings and multimedia works. The food served in the museum restaurant is often as creative and inspiring as the art on exhibit (and is usually easier to digest). Look for the leggy spider sculptures outside the museum. Tuesday-Thursday 10 am-4 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am-9 pm, Sunday 11 am-5 pm. Free.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

1616 E. 18th St. (in the same building as the American Jazz Museum), Kansas City.

Phone 816-221-1920.

Often referred to as the "Negro Leagues Hall of Fame," this museum chronicles the story of African-American baseball players who were excluded from the major leagues until 1947. Exhibits include memorabilia, films and Legend's Field, a baseball diamond with life-size sculptures of Negro Leagues stars. Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

4525 Oak St., Kansas City.

Phone 816-751-1278.
The European and American pieces are prestigious (the collection includes works by Renoir, Monet and Thomas Hart Benton), but the Asian collection is what distinguishes this museum. The Chinese Temple Room is exquisite, and don't miss the gallery of delicate scroll paintings. The sculpture park, featuring works by Henry Moore and the mammoth Shuttlecocks by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, is a nice place to take a break between galleries. With so much to see, multiple visits to this museum are suggested. The museum is currently undergoing its first renovation since 1933, with ongoing construction planned until 2007. Visitors may wish to call ahead to guarantee that their favorite exhibits are available for viewing. Tuesday-Thursday 10 am-4 pm, Friday 10 am-9 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. Free, with occasional fees for special exhibits.

Science City

30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City.

Phone 816-460-2000.
Located in Union Station, this interactive children's museum lets visitors explore a cave, travel through the human body and put together a live newscast. Set up as a city, hands-on exhibits such as the Crime Lab, Astronaut Training Center and the Science City Skycopter will spark children's imaginations. Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm (extended summer hours).

Toy & Miniature Museum

5235 Oak St., Kansas City.

Phone 816-333-2055.
Located in a restored 1911 mansion, this museum's extensive collection of miniatures spans the early 1800s to the present. It includes toys, dolls, dollhouses, model cars and more. Wednesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday 1-4 pm.

 
18th and Vine Historic District

Phone 816-474-8463 (the American Jazz Museum)
A hotbed of jazz in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, the 18th and Vine District was revived in the 1990s. The area is now home to many of Kansas City's museums and must-see attractions, such as the Blue Room, where many of the city's top jazz acts perform, and museums dedicated to jazz and the history of baseball. Visitors and residents alike are drawn to this old neighborhood. The restored 1912 Gem Theater hosts a concert series (jazz, of course) during the winter months, and the 17-ft. statue of native son Charlie Parker offers a year-round reminder of the district's legacy. Many of the false storefronts remain from Robert Altman's Kansas City, which was filmed in the neighborhood.