Exploring Kansas City’s River Market. A large outdoor venue where farmers, local merchants and just about anybody that has something of interest to sell converge in a multicultural pastiche of colors, sights, and sounds.
The flat plateau on the banks of the Missouri River where the market now stands is the oldest part of Kansas City. The French explorer Jacques Choteau first built a trading post here and set up a small community of Osage Indians. After the territory was transferred to the United States in 1803, American settlers moved here and called the area “Westport.”
The city later became known as “The Town of Kansas” due to the convergence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers and also because of the Kansa tribe that lived near here. Later as it grew, it became the “City of Kansas.” or Kansas City. This would create a century of people asking “Why is it called Kansas City when it is not in Kansas?” Well, actually there is a much smaller Kansas City, Kansas too. I know, it gets confusing. But back to the market. In the 1970’s the area was known as the “River Quay” and became an epicenter of an organized crime war with car bombings and was a dodgy area for a while.
If you can legally sell something, you’ll be able to buy it here. While in the winters there aren’t nearly as many vendors you can still find a lot of crafts and artwork being sold here.
Even these beautiful classic cars can be bought here, but you might have trouble getting them in your bag.
The perfect place for delicious food, fresh groceries, or just people watching. The City Market is one of the best ways to spend a weekend afternoon. If you come to Kansas City, you definitely don’t want to miss it.
