The latter half of the 20th century saw a boom in the construction of arenas as cities recognized the value of multipurpose venues. That included Kansas City’s Kemper Arena, which opened in 1974. Designed by renowned architect Helmut Jahn, the innovative structure in the city’s old stockyards district drew visitors by the thousands to sporting contests and performances. The 1976 Republican National Convention and 1988 NCAA basketball Final Four brought national attention and cemented the arena’s iconic status.

Historic preservationist Elizabeth Rosin discusses the architectural and cultural significance of Kemper Arena, its impact on the West Bottoms District, and her quest to list the venue on the National Register of Historic Places. The event is co-presented by the Historic West Bottoms Association in conjunction with its annual Heritage Week (May 5-12).