Melissa in Kansas City: Week One

Melissa Graham
As a teenager growing up in the suburbs of Kansas City, I always looked forward to the occasional Saturday afternoon drive down to Westport or the Plaza.

I loved going to visit my psychic at Aquarius or just window shopping on the Plaza. Rarely did I venture north of Westport, and when I did, I always got lost.

To me, there wasn't much of a city besides the few areas I knew. It wasn't until after college at Missouri State when I moved back to Kansas City, that I realized what a great city this actually is.

After six months of living with my parents in Lake Lotawana, I knew that if I was going to start my career here, I had to live in the city. I found a beautiful apartment right on the Country Club Plaza, and spent almost the next three years exploring and being a tourist in this city that I always took for granted.

I even found a great job working as a Segway tour guide, and now I spend my days showing off everything that Kansas City has to offer. From art, architecture and history, to even the animals at the Kansas City Zoo, I share it all with anyone who will listen!

So, when Jeneé offered me the chance to write about Kansas City for the month, I obviously jumped at the opportunity. What a great chance to share with everyone the city I have come to know and love!

I've spend a lot of time in the last two years as a tour guide exploring and learning about Kansas City and it has definitely resulted in a love affair!

I have found buildings and places that have made me so proud to live here, and I've gathered quite a few favorites.

The most memorable for me is Liberty Memorial, and it's my favorite place in the city. I absolutely love walking up to the Observation Deck and looking up at the 217 foot tower with the eternal flame that used to be lit every night.

Now because of high funding costs, the flame is only lit on holidays. I think it's amazing that in 1919 Kansas City raised $2.5 million in 10 days for the only monument in America dedicated to World War I.

Even before I knew what an amazing history Liberty Memorial had, I always loved going up there and letting Kansas City's beautiful skyline take my breath away.

The night before I moved to Honolulu for a semester, Liberty Memorial was the last place I had to go. I climbed up there that night and said my goodbyes to Kansas City. I said goodbye to the Sky Stations, the Power and Light Building, One Kansas City Place and the Western Auto Building.

When I came back from Hawaii, Liberty Memorial was the first place I visited, and Kansas City looked even more beautiful then I remembered.

I find it comforting to see Union Station and all the beautiful Art Deco architecture that makes up our skyline. It's my favorite place to take anyone visiting Kansas City because I think it gives such a broad spectrum of the city, and best of all, it's free!. You can see almost every district that makes up Kansas City, and it looks so good.

We have so many great buildings here that are so historical and uniquely Kansas City. Union Station still blows my mind every morning when I go to work. I'm amazed at the 95 foot ceilings and the beautiful lighting in a building that was built in 1914.

I love thinking about all the people who have passed through the train station in the last 94 years; all the hugs and kisses, the smiles and tears, the proposals, the reunions, people traveling all over the world. It's like stepping back in time.

For years everyone came to Kansas City through Union Station, and I'm sure they were just as impressed with the building as I am. As a person who loves travel more than almost anything, Union Station is a building I have come to love and take pride in.

Every day I feel lucky to work there. I feel lucky to be in Kansas City.