Kelly's Westport Inn
National Register of Historic Places

Kelly's Westport Inn

Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
Listed
September 6, 1972
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
72000718

About this property

Kelly's Westport Inn is a historical bar in Westport, Kansas City, Missouri, constructed around 1850. Kelly's and the adjoining Chouteau Store are considered to be one of the oldest buildings still standing in Kansas City. Mabry Hall at 4112 Pennsylvania Avenue is seven years older than Kelly's. The grandson of Daniel Boone, Albert Gallatin Boone, operated a grocery store. A story about the Underground Railroad alleges that a southbound tunnel connects to a stable which is now also a bar called the Westport Saloon. Around 1900, the Wiedenmann family operated a grocery there, which catered to Kansas City's elite. With the repeal of Prohibition, Phil Taggart rented the building and opened a saloon named the Wrestlers Inn. A few years later, Randal Kelly, born in County Clare, Ireland, became a bartender. He soon became a partner. In 1959, the building was designated a national historic landmark. In 1969, Kelly's Inn was registered as a historic building. The tunnel only connects two basements and there was no Underground Railroad association. In 1996, Kansas City native Eddie Griffin used Kelly's as the inspiration for the setting of his sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, starring himself and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

Location

Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
39.05250, -94.59163

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATIONEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Mutual Ice Company Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Scarritt, Rev. Nathan, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
First Swedish Baptist Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Harris, Col. John, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
South Side Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Price's Raid — Battle of Westport
1864Civil War
0.2 mi
Battle of Westport – Westport Town Fighting
1864Civil War
1 mi
Battle of Westport (Kansas forces) 1864
1864Civil War
1.1 mi
Battle of Westport (Missouri 1864)
1864Civil War
1.4 mi
Battle of Westport Missouri
1864Civil War
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Kelly's Westport Inn listed on the National Register?

Kelly's Westport Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Kelly's Westport Inn?

Kelly's Westport Inn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Kelly's Westport Inn?

The period of significance for Kelly's Westport Inn is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1850.

Can I research the history near Kelly's Westport Inn?

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