U.S. Courthouse/Post Office 811 Grand Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64106 Architect: Wight & Wight Constructed: 1938 - 1939 Nat'l Register ID #: GSA Building #: MO0040ZZ

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Statement of Significance

The U.S. Courthouse and Post Office, located at 811 Grand Avenue is Kansas City's third federal building. The history of the federal government in Kansas City begins in 1845 with Col. William M. Chick as postmaster for the "Town of Kansas." The post office was a drawer in a desk of his general store on the corner of Main and Levee Streets. The "Town of Kansas" was an important link in the great migration westward and was soon to become the point of a huge funnel which spread out to the west and southwest.

Kansas City's first permanent federal building, the "U.S. Custom House and Post Office" was located at the corner of Ninth and Walnut Streets. The building was begun in 1879 and completed in 1885. The building and site cost $325,000. The three-story gray sandstone structure was highlighted by twin towers. One of the towers contained the "Town Clock" and bell. Upon its demolition in 1930, the clock and bell were incorporated into the new twin-spired Fidelity National Bank and Trust Company high-rise building (MO0041ZZ) which replaced it on the site.

The small, three-story building gave way to a much larger second federal building, the "U.S. Post Office and Custom House." Located on the east side of Grand Avenue between Eighth and Ninth Streets, the building was completed in 1900. The new building featured a great gilded dome, spacious corridors, and high ceilings. The building and site cost $1,352,078.

The years following 1900 were years of great history making and years of phenomenal growth throughout the country. The "age of steam" was soon replaced by the "age of gasoline and electricity." The activities of the federal government were expanded to meet the needs of the changing times. By the time of the first World War, the building had become inadequate to hold all of the federal agencies. Due to a lack of space, the newer agencies went into rented quarters in the downtown area. In 1932, a large general Post Office was constructed at 315 West Pershing Road at a cost of $4,000,000.

With the "New Deal" programs came a further expansion of federal activities and Kansas City soon became a major center with more than 100 federal offices located in and near the city. It became important that the government construct a larger and more efficient building. Funds to construct a new federal courts building and parking garage were included in the Deficiency Bill passed by Congress in 1934. However, upon surveys undertaken in 1935, the original appropriation of $2,300,000 made in the Hoover administration was increased to $3,300,000. After two years of design and planning by the architectural firm of Wight and Wight, construction bids were opened on August 31, 1937. The Swenson Construction Company was awarded the contract to build the new facility at a cost of $2,403,219. The clearing of the old federal building was begun in February of 1938 and by July 1, 1938, the old building was completely demolished. The cornerstone for the new building was laid on October 20, 1938, and the first federal agency moved in on September 21, 1939. A dedication ceremony, attended by Harry S Truman, then a U.S. Senator, was held on October 5, 1939.

According to the Missouri State Historic Preservation Officer, the property is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. A Statement of Opinion, dated February 18, 1993, reads "The United States Court House and Post Office (Federal Courts Building) at 811 Grand Avenue, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri is potentially eligible under criteria of evaluation C and A and areas of significance, Architecture and Government to wit: The building was designed by Wight and Wight, the reknowned architectural firm responsible for several depression era governmental buildings constructed in Kansas City, including the Jackson County Courthouse (1934), City Hall (1937), and the Municipal Courts Building (1938). The Federal Courts Building was constructed in 1939, the last of the major governmental construction projects of the 1930's. While Wight and Wight were known for their Neo-classical work, these projects were distinctly moderne, with many Art-Deco references. The austere Federal Courts Building reflects a clear transition from the historical references of the past and represents the ideals of the public works projects initiated under the Hoover and Roosevelt adminstration."


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