Garment Museum Display at MGC

December 06, 2010

Did you know that there is a Garment District Museum in Kansas City?  Did you even know that we had a "garment district" at one time? 

The museum is at 801 Broadway in downtown KC, and tours are conducted by appointment. Many of the buildings, in what used to be the Historic Garment District, date back to the 1870s, and are on the National Register of Historic Places. The manufacturing of coats, suits, dresses, hats, and children's wear began in the early 1920s. From post WWI until the 1940s, this area employed over 4,000 people. Manufacturing of garments was the second largest employer of any industry in Kansas City, MO.  Ann Brownfield, the curator of the museum, will walk visitors through the buildings and the museum, which tells the story of the beginning of the garment district. She will also explain the designing and manufacturing of clothing. Visit the Garment Museum's website for images and more information, or you can see a small display of some of the garments from the museum by visiting the Midwest Genealogy Center.

Ellen M.
Midwest Genealogy Center