Tours – KC Footnotes

New to town or born and raised, everyone finds something that makes them smile a little bigger about Kansas City on our tours.

KC By Design Tour

Kansas City’s streets are an open-air art gallery where historic architecture meets contemporary creativity—from ornate theater facades and elegant Jazz Age buildings to massive murals and unexpected sculptures around every corner. Walk 1.5 miles with us over 2 hours as we explore the artistic details most people miss, from architectural gems designed by Kansas City legends to street art that’s transforming our neighborhoods. Bring your camera—every block offers another frame-worthy moment.

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Trailblazing Women

Discover the remarkable women who shaped Kansas City, from Sacagawea passing through our region to Nell Donnelly revolutionizing fashion, the founders of Children’s Mercy Hospital, and civil rights champions like Eliza Burton Conley and Lucile Bluford. Join us for a 2-hour walk covering 1.5 miles through downtown, stopping at landmarks connected to these fearless pioneers. Their stories aren’t just history—they’re the foundation of the Kansas City we know and love.

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Tom's Town Tour

From Jazz Age speakeasies to a Super Bowl that brought down the mob—Kansas City’s criminal history is wilder than you ever imagined. Join us for a 2-hour, 1.5-mile walk through “Tom’s Town,” where Boss Pendergast controlled the city and mob boss Nick Civella ran an empire that collapsed in 1970 when overwhelming local betting on the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory created a gambling crisis that led the FBI straight to his door. You’ll see where it all happened and hear the incredible story of how Kansas City football accidentally ended organized crime in our city.

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KC Fountain Tour

From grand European-inspired monuments to whimsical modern sculptures, Kansas City’s fountains are more than decoration—they’re liquid art that tells the story of our city’s ambition, beauty, and civic pride. Join us for a 2-hour, 1.5-mile journey through downtown and the Plaza, visiting spectacular fountains while learning about the artists, donors, and city leaders who gave Kansas City more fountains than any American city.

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Top to Bottom Tour

Explore Kansas City from rooftop parks to river valleys on this vertical adventure. We'll climb to hidden green spaces with life-size chess, spot a decommissioned streetcar on a rooftop, then descend to a 35-ton bank vault turned theater and secret speakeasies like P.S. at Hotel Phillips. Discover why the West Bottoms—the "bottom lands" where two rivers meet—shaped our city's history. This 2-hour walk reveals KC's extreme elevations and the stories between them.

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Paint the Town Tour

Kansas City’s streets are an artist’s playground, and we’ll show you why. We’ll explore vibrant murals, celebrated sculptures, and modern art installations that make our city a living gallery, from the Crossroads to hidden gems most people walk right past. The tour wraps up with the best part—you’ll paint your own Kansas City masterpiece to take home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

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Build-Your-Own Tour

Want something different? We love creating custom tours! Whether you need step-on guides for your bus tour or a walking experience tailored just for your group, we’ll craft the perfect Kansas City story. Explore the rich and famous of Kansas City, dive deep into our most historic sites, trace the three trails that passed through Independence, discover the riverboat town of Weston, or dream up something entirely your own. Just tell us what you’re curious about—we’ll make it happen.