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Support Our Mission: Your Contribution Matters

Join Us in Preserving History and Inspiring Future Generations

The preservation of the 1855 Harris-Kearney Historical House Museum and its use as an educational tool are made possible through the invaluable support of our community. We deeply value your role in this endeavor and encourage you to consider donating to help us continue our mission.

Your support ensures that this historic gem remains vibrant, accessible, and a safe, inclusive community space for generations to come. You are not just a supporter, but an integral part of our operations, and the reason we can continue to share this rich history.

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Every Gift Counts: Small Donations, BIG Impact

Sponsorship & Capital Campaign List

Sponsoring the 1855 HKH projects demonstrates your commitment to preserving Kansas City’s storied history. Your investment ensures the HKH will thrive, allowing us to enhance our educational programs, tours, and events for all ages. Sponsorship will help us complete critically essential interior and exterior renovation projects.

Your sponsorship, by adopting a room, funding individual projects listed below, or making a donation of any amount designated to the project(s) of your choice, is vital to preserving this historic treasure and ensuring its legacy for future generations.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Interior Needs

  • HARRIS BEDROOM: restore and repair walls and wood trim, plus replace roof leak damaged wallpaper.
  • CHILDREN’S BEDROOM: restore and repair wall cracks, restore and paint all wood trim and door frame, including replacing the wallpaper. r in children’s bedroom
  • DUCT WORK: Repair or replace  damaged attic A/C and heat ducts.
  • KITCHEN: gut and renovate the kitchen to create better functionality for public use during private and public events.
  • SECOND FLOOR ACCESSABILITY Establish a solution for touring the second floor, such as video tour production expenses. This would enable those restricted by the steps to tour virtually via the lower gallery’s large TV.
  • ACCESSABLE RESTROOM: Remodel first floor restrooms for wheelchair accessibility.
  • WINDOWS: add heat blocking window shades.
  • DONE Office: Establish an office on the second floor, to enable clutter free public library space on the first floor, with furnishings such as desk, file cabinets, and computer and printer donated by board members.

Exterior Needs

  • STRUCTURAL SUPPORT: Repair and restore all structural cracks in the brick and stucco.
  • PARGE: Repair masonry beneath the brown color parge (looks like stucco) on the veranda walls.
  • WINDOWS & DOORS: Repair and restore rotten wood on 30 windows on the house, and 5 basement window, plus and 5 doors and frames, including fresh paint.
  • SHUTTERS: Replace 30 sets of disintegrating and broken shutters with new, period accurate shutters.
  • GUTTERS AND DRAIN SPOUTS: Repair or replace gutters and spouts, including fresh paint.
  • DONE: Establish a wheelchair accessible front door entry into the museum house, from the parking lot, made possible with portable heavy metal ramps.
  • DONE: Ryan Lawn and Tree provided in-kind, major repair to our sprinkler system, plus a new control box. In addition, they removed two, highly infested large shade trees, and beautifully trimmed five other trees.
  • TREES: New large trees are requested to help shade outside events during the summer months.

Basement & Structural Support

  • FOUNDATION: Restore all foundation walls including tuck pointing.
  • WINDOWS: Repair and paint rotten wood on 5 basement windows and window frame and install window locks.
  • WALLS: Remove all sheet rock walls due to damage from plumbing floods, securing the support between the basement floor and ceiling.
  • ELECTRICAL: Clean up and repair the very old electrical wiring in many areas of the basement and hanging from the ceiling.
  • CEILING: install new insulated ceiling tiles, and additional ceiling light.
  • DUCTS: Repair or replace basement damaged A/C and heat ducts
  • STORAGE: Establish a new, museum-quality artifact storage area.
  • DONE Repair severe basement plumbing and drain issues was completed in May 2025.

Roof

  • DONE: ROOF: Repair leaks with new shingles.
  • STRUCTURAL SUPPORT: Repair interior roof support and beams
  • GUTTERS AND DRAINS: Repair or replace, and paint.
  • SOFFITS: Restore and paint

Front Porch & Back Veranda

  • FRONT PORCH: Restore and paint all wood including the columns, widow’s walk on porch roof, ceiling, soffits, steps, and railings.
  • FRONT PORCH CRAWL SPACE: Repair and paint, or replace the front porch crawl space lattice covers.
  • VERANDA CRAWL SPACE: Replace the missing brick and repair the opening on the south side.
  • 1ST & 2ND VERANDA FLOORS: Replace dangerous 2nd floor wooden flooring, repair and/or replace or repair wooden ceiling on both floors, soffits, trim, and gutters.
  •  STAIRS & RAILINGS Repair and paint both porch and veranda entry stairs and railings.
  • PARGE (mentioned under exterior needs): Restore and paint the veranda brown parge (stucco like) walls on both floors.
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTS Clean and restore all  fixtures.

Heating & Cooling

  • DONE: Furnace and air conditioners (three units) have been repaired several times in the last 12 months.
  • FURNANACES & AIR CONDITIONERS Replace two of the three furnaces and air conditioning units soon. Installation of two air conditioners was in 2003, and 2015.

We're incredibly grateful for our generous donors.

The Westport Historical Society relies solely on donations and grants, without any town or government funding. Your contributions are essential. Please consider making a donation to help us continue preserving history and offering engaging programs.

Have questions? Contact the Westport Historical Society. Whether you need details on visiting, events, or educational programs, our team is ready to help you connect with history.

Contact Us

Visit Us

2025 Museum Hours:

All Guided Tours

Open: MAR 1st – DEC 14th 2025

2025 Museum Fees:

Admission includes guided tour and featured exhibits

  • $10 Adults
  • $ 7 Seniors 65+ & Veterans
  • $ 7 Students 12-18
  • $ 5 Children 6-11
  • FREE Children 0-5
  • FREE WHS members

Contact Us

Phone 

  • Museum Office: Temporarily Unavailable
  • Cell: (913)787-1707

Email

On The Map

4000 Baltimore Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64111

An association chartered in 1950 of men and women who have an interest in the early history of Westport and Kansas City. WHS is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Organization. TIN: 43-6064569

Thank you for supporting our mission, which is to Preserve, Protect, and Promote the history of West Port, the Town of Kansas, and early Kansas City.

WHS is a Safe Place for visiting, learning, and sharing, and in order to foster a positive environment, we have zero tolerance for unfriendly, unkind, and aggressive behavior.