Lee's Summit, Missouri

Everything Lee's Summit is known for

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Music in Lee's Summit

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Artists From Lee's Summit

Pat Metheny

jazz

Rivers & Roads in Song near Lee's Summit

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Lee's Summit.

US Route 71 2 songs Missouri River 12 songs Interstate 35 45 songs

History of Lee's Summit

Independence, MO RoadyGoat

Independence, Missouri, sits at an elevation that offers long views across the plains, a fitting vista for a place that once saw wagon trains stretching to the horizon. You can still feel that nostalgic pull here, the echo of a time when this was the last outpost of civilization for those heading west. Known as the "Queen City of the Trails," it was a jumping-off point for dreams of new lives, a place where families gathered supplies and steeled their resolve before venturing into the unknown. That journey wasn't always easy; the 1827 flood, a major setback, delayed westward expansion for months. The spirit of Independence extends far beyond its historical role. Community of Christ, with roots deeply embedded in the city's history, maintains its headquarters here. And while healthcare and social assistance are now major employers, it’s perhaps the legacy of leadership and athletic prowess that truly stands out.

13.0 mi away

Independence, MO RoadyGoat

Independence, Missouri, maintains a strong connection to its past. It sits atop the rolling plains at over a thousand feet elevation, a vantage point that once offered pioneers their last glimpse of settled land before venturing west. The Community of Christ headquarters still stands here, a reminder of the city's religious heritage, and the name itself, taken from the Declaration, reinforces a sense of American identity. But even with its historical ambiance, the area felt a palpable shift recently with the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII victory. Though the team isn't based within Independence city limits, the win resonated deeply. For a region often overshadowed by larger metropolitan areas, the Chiefs' success brought a surge of civic pride. Conversations centered on the victory, the players, the economic boost it brought to the metro area, and the sense of unity it fostered. The win acted as a momentary unifier, a welcome distraction from the everyday concerns of healthcare, social assistance, and the echoes of past struggles, including the devastating flood of 1827 that temporarily stalled the westward movement this "Queen City of the Trails" once symbolized.

13.0 mi away

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que: World-Famous Barbecue Born in a Gas Station RoadyGoat

1996

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, at the corner of 47th and Mission in Kansas City, Kansas, is one of the most celebrated barbecue joints in America, and it lives inside a working gas station. It opened in August of 1996, founded by Jeff and Joy Stehney, whose competition team Slaughterhouse Five won grand championships on the barbecue circuit, including the American Royal. It first opened under the name Oklahoma Joe's and was renamed Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que in 2014. The food earned national fame: Anthony Bourdain put it on his list of thirteen places to eat before you die. The signature is the Z-Man, a sandwich of slow-smoked brisket, smoked provolone, and two onion rings on a kaiser roll, named for a Kansas City radio host called The Z-Man. People still line up at the gas-station counter for the brisket, the burnt ends, and the ribs. (Sources: Joe's Kansas City; Wikipedia; Entrepreneur; Men's Health via explore.com.)

RoadyGoat → · 16.4 mi away

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library

1957

The presidential library of Harry S. Truman in Independence, Missouri, where the 33rd president made some of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century.

12.6 mi away

Independence Square

1827

Independence served as the primary jumping-off point for the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails, outfitting hundreds of thousands of westward emigrants.

12.6 mi away

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

1933

One of America's finest encyclopedic art museums, built from the bequests of Kansas City newspaper publisher William Rockhill Nelson and schoolteacher Mary Atkins.

14.2 mi away

National World War I Museum and Memorial

1926

The only museum in the United States dedicated to World War I, built around the Liberty Memorial tower that was dedicated in 1926 before a crowd of 100,000.

16.0 mi away

Kansas City Stockyards Site

1871

Once the second-largest livestock market in the world after Chicago, the Kansas City Stockyards processed millions of cattle and defined the city's identity for over a century.

16.7 mi away

Things to Do in Lee's Summit

food 15.6 mi away

Arthur Bryant's

The king of Kansas City BBQ since 1930. Presidents and celebrities line up for burnt ends.

historical 16.0 mi away

National WWI Museum

The nation's leading WWI museum. A glass bridge over a field of 9000 poppies.

food 17.1 mi away

Joe's Kansas City BBQ

The Z-Man sandwich is legendary. Formerly Oklahoma Joe's. Inside a gas station.

historical 16.3 mi away

Crossroads Arts District

Kansas City's creative hub. Galleries bars and First Friday art walks.

Everything Near Lee's Summit

47 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

Lee's Summit, MO · Local history
Lee's Summit's character is no accident. Its location, perched on the edge of the Missouri prairie, gave it an early advantage. The town grew as a convenient stop along the stagecoach lines and later, the Missouri…
Longview Farm · 3.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered what agricultural extravagance looked like over a century ago? Step back in time here at Longview Farm, a testament to one wealthy businessman's vision of turning a farm into a masterpiece. You're…
85th and Manchester "Three Trails" Trail Segment · 7.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what it was like to journey west, facing the unknown? Right here, you're standing on a physical piece of that history. This isn't just any old path; it’s a preserved segment of the legendary Santa Fe Trail!…
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker
The presidential library of Harry S. Truman in Independence, Missouri, where the 33rd president made some of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century.
Independence Square · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker
Independence served as the primary jumping-off point for the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails, outfitting hundreds of thousands of westward emigrants.
Jackson County Courthouse (Independence, Missouri) · 12.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Before he was president, Harry S. Truman shaped his political career right here as a county judge. This isn't just any old courthouse; it's where a future president got his start. In 1922, Truman won election as county…
Jackson County Jail and Marshal's House · 12.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine life inside this 1859 jail, which held prisoners during the Civil War era. This isn't just any old building, it's the Jackson County Jail, built in 1859. It served as the county jail for Jackson County,…
Temple Lot · 12.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered if a simple patch of grass could hold the weight of an entire spiritual movement? Well, buckle up, because you're about to discover the Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri. This unassuming plot of land is…
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site · 12.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered what it was like to live as an ordinary man who suddenly became President? Here, you can literally walk in his footsteps. This is the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, preserving the longtime home of…
Harry S. Truman Historic District · 13.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a president who preferred his modest Independence, Missouri home to the White House – that's Harry Truman, and you're driving through the heart of his world. This area isn't just a historic district; it's a…
Independence, MO · 13.0 mi
Independence, Missouri, sits at an elevation that offers long views across the plains, a fitting vista for a place that once saw wagon trains stretching to the horizon. You can still feel that nostalgic pull here, the…
John Wornall House Museum · 13.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time and experience daily life in 19th-century Kansas City at this preserved historic home. This isn't just an old house; it's a window into a pivotal era for our nation, and for the Wornall family who…

Show all 47 nearby places

Vaile Mansion · 13.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered what it was like to be a Gilded Age mogul in Missouri? You're about to find out! Welcome to the Vaile Mansion, a breathtaking testament to ambition and elegance built in 1881. This architectural marvel was…
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art · 14.2 mi · Historical Marker
One of America's finest encyclopedic art museums, built from the bequests of Kansas City newspaper publisher William Rockhill Nelson and schoolteacher Mary Atkins.
Kelly's Westport Inn · 14.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over to Kelly's Westport Inn for a drink, because you're looking at a serious piece of Kansas City history! This building, along with the connected Chouteau Store, is one of the oldest still standing in the city,…
Uptown Theater (Kansas City, Missouri) · 15.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Experience the grandeur of a bygone era at this beautifully preserved historic theater. This isn't just a building; it's a living relic of Kansas City's golden age of entertainment. Opened in 1928, the Uptown Theater…
Shawnee Methodist Mission · 15.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a place meant to civilize, but used to divide. That's the story of the Shawnee Methodist Mission. Founded in 1839 by Reverend Thomas Johnson, it started as a school for Shawnee children, intended to teach them…
Arthur Bryant's · 15.6 mi · Things to Do
The king of Kansas City BBQ since 1930. Presidents and celebrities line up for burnt ends.
Union Cemetery (Kansas City, Missouri) · 15.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over, history buff! You're approaching Union Cemetery, the oldest surviving public cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri, and the final resting place of many who shaped this city. Founded in 1857 as a private,…
National World War I Museum and Memorial · 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to be moved. The National World War I Museum and Memorial isn't just a building; it's a profound tribute to a generation lost. After the Great War ended in 1918, Kansas City civic leaders wanted to create a…
National WWI Museum · 16.0 mi · Things to Do
The nation's leading WWI museum. A glass bridge over a field of 9000 poppies.
National World War I Museum and Memorial · 16.0 mi · Historical Marker
The only museum in the United States dedicated to World War I, built around the Liberty Memorial tower that was dedicated in 1926 before a crowd of 100,000.
Wheatley-Provident Hospital · 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over, history buff! You're about to uncover a hidden gem – the last standing hospital in Kansas City built by and for African Americans during segregation. Imagine Kansas City in the early 1900s. If you were Black,…
Kansas City Union Station · 16.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a time when train travel was king – Kansas City Union Station was its grand palace. Opened in 1914, it replaced a smaller, outdated depot and quickly became a vital hub. During World War II, Union Station…
Western Auto Building · 16.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Look up there! That iconic sign on top of the Western Auto Building isn't just a landmark, it's a beacon to Kansas City's commercial past. Originally built in 1914, this grand structure was first known as the Coca-Cola…
Crossroads Arts District · 16.3 mi · Things to Do
Kansas City's creative hub. Galleries bars and First Friday art walks.
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que: World-Famous Barbecue Born in a Gas Station · 16.4 mi
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, at the corner of 47th and Mission in Kansas City, Kansas, is one of the most celebrated barbecue joints in America, and it lives inside a working gas station. It opened in August of 1996,…
Rosedale World War I Memorial Arch · 16.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Take a moment to honor the brave souls who served in World War I at this impressive memorial arch overlooking Kansas City. Designed by local Rosedale resident John LeRoy Marshall, the arch was erected in 1924 to…
Monroe Hotel · 16.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what secrets a hotel can hide? The Monroe Hotel, right here in Kansas City, was once the nerve center for one of America's most powerful political bosses, Tom Pendergast. He even had a secret tunnel…
TWA Corporate Headquarters Building · 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Before it moved to NYC, this unassuming building was the headquarters of TWA, a major player in the golden age of air travel. Charles Lindbergh himself supposedly chose Kansas City as the home for Transcontinental Air…
Jensen-Salsbery Laboratories · 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Look up for those two Atlas sculptures – representing Biology and Chemistry – on the third floor of this building! This isn't just an old building; it was once a hub for veterinary medicine, pioneering animal health in…
Museum of Kansas City · 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what a lumber baron's mansion looks like? You're about to find out! Housed in the former estate of lumber baron Robert A. Long, this museum showcases the rich history of Kansas City. In 1910, Robert A. Long,…
Kansas City Stockyards Site · 16.7 mi · Historical Marker
Once the second-largest livestock market in the world after Chicago, the Kansas City Stockyards processed millions of cattle and defined the city's identity for over a century.
Kansas City, MO · 16.8 mi
Kansas City is a place where the past hums beneath the surface, quite literally. A vast underground of limestone — some of it cut by water over millennia, most of it hollowed out by miners — snakes beneath the rolling…
Mainstreet Theater · 16.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time at the Mainstreet Theater, a historic gem in the Power & Light District, once known as The Empire Theater. This grand dame of entertainment has seen it all. Opened in 1921 as the Empire Theater, it was…
Midland Theatre · 16.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pulling up to the Midland Theatre? Get ready to step back into a world of entertainment and, surprisingly, collegiate sports history! This stunning theater, originally known as Loew's Midland Theatre, opened its doors…
Kansas City Power and Light Building · 16.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This isn't just another pretty building; it's a symbol of Kansas City's ambition and resilience. Back in 1931, during the Great Depression, Kansas City Power and Light President Joseph F. Porter decided to build this…
Boley Building · 16.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Look out your window at the Boley Building, a true marvel of early 20th-century architecture! It's not just another old building; it's a testament to innovation. This isn't just a pretty face; it's a structural pioneer.…
Hotel Phillips · 17.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder where a future president might have sold socks and ties? Right here. Before the grand Hotel Phillips you see today, this spot was home to the Glennon Hotel, a bustling hub where a young Harry S. Truman ran a…
Joe's Kansas City BBQ · 17.1 mi · Things to Do
The Z-Man sandwich is legendary. Formerly Oklahoma Joe's. Inside a gas station.
Folly Theater · 17.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Once a vaudeville hall, this theater has hosted countless performances since 1900. Get ready to step back in time. This isn't just any old building, it's the Folly Theater, a true survivor. Built in 1900, originally as…
Sauer Castle · 17.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Legend says this imposing castle is haunted by the Sauer family, who lived and died within its walls. Anton Sauer, a German immigrant and businessman, commissioned the renowned architect Asa Beebe Cross to design this…
Kansas City Live Stock Exchange · 17.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over, because you’re about to drive past the beating heart of what made Kansas City famous: its historic Stockyards. This very building, the Kansas City Live Stock Exchange, was the headquarters for a massive…
Bleeding Kansas - The Border That Started the Civil War · 18.2 mi
The Kansas-Missouri border became the most violently contested line in America before the Civil War. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 let settlers vote on whether Kansas would be slave or free, effectively repealing the…
Huron Cemetery · 19.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming cemetery is the final resting place of Wyandot Nation members and a site of ongoing legal and cultural significance. It's a story of forced removal, resilience, and a fight for sacred ground. The Huron…
Kansas City, KS · 19.3 mi · Local history
Kansas City, Kansas owes its existence to a confluence of factors, beginning with the Wyandot tribe, who officially founded the city in 1854. But its deeper roots lie in geography. The Missouri River, a vital artery for…
Granada Theater (Kansas City, Kansas) · 19.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time at this grand movie palace designed with Spanish and Moorish influences. The Granada Theater opened its doors in 1928 as a movie theater and vaudeville house. It quickly became a popular entertainment…

Explore Lee's Summit on the Map

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Lee's Summit, Missouri

Music in Lee's Summit

Songs About Lee's Summit

Artists From Lee's Summit

Rivers & Roads in Song near Lee's Summit

History of Lee's Summit

Independence, MO RoadyGoat

Independence, MO RoadyGoat

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que: World-Famous Barbecue Born in a Gas Station RoadyGoat

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library

Independence Square

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

National World War I Museum and Memorial

Kansas City Stockyards Site

Things to Do in Lee's Summit

Everything Near Lee's Summit

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