Historic West Bottoms Association

2nd Annual Wilbur Niewald Plein Air Weekend

May 18, 2024
43 Regional Outdoor Painters were pre-registered for the 2nd Annual Wilbur Niewald Plein Air Weekend, held on May 17th-18th in the Historic West Bottoms.

From the 38 participating artists, 70+ original works were generated during our 3 Scheduled Quick Paint Events.

The results were phenomenal in reflecting street scenes and classic architecture. From our southern homebase at the Stockyards Building to as far North as the Weld Wheel Building, at the time imminently scheduled for implosion, our artists were capturing not only nostalgia, but rendering forever timeless images of an ever changing West Bottoms District.

Click here to view more pictures from the event. Mark your calendars for December 11th of this year when we plan to celebrate this year's painters at the HWBA Holiday Open House and for the 3rd Annual Wilbur Niewald Plein Air Weekend May 16th-18th, 2025 when we will expanding the festivities across three days!

2024 Annual Stockyards Legends Dinner

May 06, 2024
HWBA held our annual Stockyards Legends Dinner on May 6, 2024 in The Oliver Building.

This year, we honored Crosby Kemper III for his contributions to the Greater Kansas City Area. During his time as former executive director of the Kansas City Public Library, Kemper established the library as one of the leading cultural destinations and a hub of community engagement in the city. He also served as chair of the board of directors of the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband Coalition, which supports open, affordable broadband connections for local community organizations.

As a result of his work, Kemper has received numerous honors and awards, including the Difference Maker Award from the Urban League of Kansas City, the William F. Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service from William Jewell College, and the 2010 Harmony Humanitarian Hoffman Legacy Award. He was inducted into the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame by the Kansas City Kansas Community College Endowment Association and was appointed to the Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. His board service has included the Kansas City Symphony, the Black Archives of Mid-America, Union Station Kansas City, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, the Rabbit hOle — a center promoting children’s books — and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which operates Monticello.

The evening included a cocktail hour, dinner, and musical accompaniment before a program of remarks by friends and colleagues of the honoree including Jon Stephens, President and CEO of Port KC, Sylvester "Sly" James, former Mayor of Kansas City, MO, Dr. Carmaletta Williams, Executive Director of Black Archives of Mid America, Mike Zeller, President of Flying Truss LLC and HWBA Board Member, and Tom Esselman, HWBA President.

Once again, the Stockyards Legends Dinner proved to be a highlight of our Heritage Days celebrations. See you next year!

Press Conference Announcing Annual Heritage Days

May 02, 2024
On May 1st, Mayor Quinton Lucas joined HWBA president Tom Esselman and board members Bruce Holloway and Mike Zeller as they announced the Historic West Bottoms Heritage Days 2024 on 13th St. in the Warehouse District of the West Bottoms.

On May 2nd, the Kansas City, Missouri City Council also recognized this year of events with a special action celebrating 100 years of advocacy for the association and 10 years of events for Heritage Days.

Click here or here to view some local news coverage of the events.

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