This Kansas City museum celebrates African American athletes and their contribution to the sport of baseball. Dating back to as early as the 1800s, it examines the evolution of the sport through hundreds of archives, artifacts, and stories.
The exhibits tell the story of the formation of The Negro Leagues, an important but often overlooked period of sports history. Operating from 1920-1960, the Negro Leagues were of a period of time when baseball was still segregated. The museum preserves uniforms, statues, signed memorabilia, and more from this era. A short film takes visitors through the history of the league with video footage and personal stories. Another highlight is the collection of bronze statues, most of which are life-sized tributes to National Hall of Fame players.
Often combined with a visit to the nearby American Jazz Museum, it’s one of the largest specialized collections of its kind in the country.