Central Library

This antique Victorian style wooden bookcase was the first to be purchased for the Kansas City Public Library. It has five shelves and two lower drawers. Access to the shelving cabinet is gained through two doors comprised of glass and wood that swing outward. Each door contains four panes of glass. The base of the bo...

This large-scale, Renaissance Revival style bookcase has five cabinet spaces with glass doors framed by ornate wood carvings. The massiveness of the bookcase is balanced by well integrated and articulate ornament. The glass cabinet doors reveal the contents thereby presenting themselves as the true power of the piece....

The massive Baroque style sideboard is adorned with ornamental flourishes and whimsical creatures on the front side. The finish is dark in color and shines with an almost bronze quality. The sideboard contains two drawers and two cabinets separated by three columnal outcroppings. Across the front of the cabinet are a n...

This small scale reproduction celebrates the HMS Victory, notable for the role as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. The original ship, by the Royal Navy rating system, was considered first-rate because of the continuous decks that contained 104 mounted guns. The replica features...

The marble chair was dedicated to James M. Greenwood (1836-1914) by his wife. The original Kansas City Public Library building was constructed under Greenwood's direction and he was committed to making its services available to the public for the rest of his life. He served on the Kansas City Public School board as a s...

A miniature bronze maquette representing the Spirit of Commerce. The female figure is clothed in a long dress with a pleated skirt and scale-like top complete with a bow tied at the waist. A flowing shawl is draped over the figure's shoulders and arms. Her face is nobly directed upward and outward toward the viewer. He...

The San Carlos Grandfather clock stands at six and a half feet tall. It is rectangular in form with little ornamentation and is made of wood with a cherry varnish. Clear glass windows provide a look inside the clock with its brushed silver metal weights and pendulum. The face is off-white with black Roman numerals and...

This grandfather clock stands at approximately six and a half feet high. The design is sleek with black varnish and clear glass windows that reveal brushed metal mechanical elements of the weights and pendulum. The face of the clock is white and adorned with silver Arabic numerals and black accents.

The large scale painting is an oil on canvas depicting the town of Kansas (Kansas City before it became a city). The painting shows many of the key elements that define fifty years or more of Kansas City history and development. The artist, Anthony Benton Gude writes that "depicted in the foreground are representations...

This elegant grandfather clock contains a large round clock face and oval body atop a base with scroll and leaf ornament and bun feet. The clock has a beautiful Windsor cherry wood finish with hues of antique gold throughout the carved details. The clock face features dual-tone, metallic and gold hands with Arabic nume...