National Register of Historic Places

Gillis Orphans' Home

Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
Listed
July 10, 2017
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
100001300

About this property

The Gillis Orphans' Home is a historic orphanage in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The Gillis Orphans' Home was funded by Mary Ann Gillis, nephew of William Gillis, with his inheritance. It was built by members of the YWCA in 1900, on a 3.5 acres (0.014 km2) property, donated by Thomas H. Swope. The wife of businessman S. B. Armour also donated $25,000 for the construction. In 1904, the Margaret Klock Armour Memorial Home was built next door. The Gillis Orphans' Home was originally called the Children's Home. During the 1920s and 1930s, the property was expanded to 26 acres after the nearby Memorial Home changed buildings. Ella C. Loose, wife of Jacob Loose, would give away a free pair of shoes and a dollar to all the orphans annually. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 10, 2017. Built in the Georgian style, the Gillis Orphans' Home is 3 stories, and is constructed with a main T-shape.

Location

2119 Tracy Ave.
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
39.08659, -94.56652

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORY
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Gillis Orphans' Home

This page lists Gillis Orphans' Home. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Gillis Orphans' Home report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Marks and Garvey Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Wheatley-Provident Hospital
Early Republic
0.3 mi
18th and Vine Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Mutual Musicians' Foundation Building
Industrial
0.4 mi
Lincoln High School
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Kansas City Skirmish 1861
1861Civil War
1.1 mi
Battle of Byram's Ford
1864Civil War
2.7 mi
Price's Raid — Battle of Westport
1864Civil War
2.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Gillis Orphans' Home listed on the National Register?

Gillis Orphans' Home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 10, 2017.

What type of historic resource is Gillis Orphans' Home?

Gillis Orphans' Home is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gillis Orphans' Home?

The period of significance for Gillis Orphans' Home is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Gillis Orphans' Home?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Gillis Orphans' Home will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Jackson County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Jackson County.

Explore JacksonCounty ›

More historic places in Missouri

Browse all historic places in Missouri.

View Missourihistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Missouri history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Missourihistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Gillis Orphans' Home will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report