Overview
Discover Kansas City's rich culture with this self-guided walking tour! This city isn’t just home to good barbecue and Taylor Swift’s sweetheart—it’s actually bursting with classic architecture, colorful characters, and more history than you can shake a stick at.
Check out the soaring courthouse as you learn about a racketeer in league with a US president. Discover the stranger-than-fiction story of the firefighting Olympics. Explore the remnants of industrial glory in the Garment District. And so much more! Experience America’s heartland like never before.
After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.
New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
- Recommended by 98% of travelers
- Badge of Excellence
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Mobile ticket
What's included
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Meeting and pickup
Travelers meet at the meeting point.
Meeting point
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
End point
This tour will end at "1000 Locust St, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA"
Good to know
You’re not done yet! It’s time to set up the tour you purchased.
Follow these steps now, while in wifi/signal. Do NOT wait until your travel date or while onsite.
1. Find the tour setup instructions:
>> Email: search for the phrase "Your tour operator sent you a message” OR “Set up your Action Tour Guide self-guided tour now." If it’s not in Inbox, check All Mail.
>> Viator App Messages: open the app, check Bookings, select View Voucher, and click on Contact Tour Operator
>> TripAdvisor App Messages:
open the app, check Account, select Messages
>> Text: check for a text from 415-980-4997
>> Can’t find it? Ask us to resend: https://actiontourguide.com/redeem/
2. Follow the set up instructions NOW, not later:
>> MUST do this before traveling to site. Requires WiFi/signal.
>> Do NOT wait until your travel date to access the tour for the first time. The tour is not tied to your travel date.
>> If you've reserved the tour for multiple participants (e.g., four people), the same password can be redeemed multiple times (e.g., four times).
>> For the tour guide app to function as intended, iPhones must be iOS 13 or above and Androids must be version 9 or above.
3. Not familiar with our self-guided audio tours? Watch this quick tutorial: https://actiontourguide.com/tutorial
⚠️ Important Note:
Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.
Questions? https://actiontourguide.com/faq/
What to expect
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Folly Theater
10 min
This is the Folly Theater, another of Kansas City’s historic theaters. But unlike the Newman and Gayety, this one is still standing!
NOTE: This 1.7-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Kansas City in 1-1.5 hours. -
Jackson County Courthouse
10 min
This is the Jackson County Courthouse, built in 1934. Notice any resemblance between the courthouse and City Hall? You might, given that the same architecture firm designed both structures!
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Hotel Phillips Kansas City, Curio Collection by Hilton
10 min
In the early 1900s, the Glennon Hotel sat on this same corner. Inside the Glennon, you could shop at a small haberdashery. You might be asking, “Wait, what’s a haberdashery?” Basically, it’s a fancy word for a men’s clothing store. But today, we remember the Glennon Hotel haberdashery for its famous owner… Harry Truman!
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Barney Allis Plaza
10 min
When Allis took over the Gayety to expand his hotel, Kansas City lost one of its premier jazz clubs. And jazz was very important to the residents of Kansas City!
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Folly Theater
10 min
In the early 1900s, Kansas City residents could take a stroll down 12th Street and visit all three theaters! They could catch a movie at the Newman, see a jazz show at the Gayety, and enjoy a dramatic production at the Folly. You might recognize some of the actors and performers who graced the stage at the Folly: Shirley Booth, Humphrey Bogart, and even the Marx Brothers!
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Mark Twain Statue
10 min
The statue honors one of Missouri’s most famous writers. Twain grew up in the small city of Hannibal, Missouri. Although Twain’s family remained fairly poor, he looked back on his childhood with a great deal of nostalgia.
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Majestic
10 min
The bar first opened in 1911, when James Fitzpatrick decided that the Quality Hill neighborhood needed a quality place to have a drink. You’ll recognize the name of Fitzpatrick’s most important business ally… our old friend, Tom Pendergast!
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Garment District
10 min
Kansas City’s Garment District was one of the largest in the country, second only to NIn the 1930s, ew York. Dedicated workers bustled through the streets, rushing to various factories where they would sew all manner of shirts, pants, and dresses. During this time, nearly a quarter of all clothing in the United States came from Kansas City. Pretty cool!
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21c Museum Hotel Kansas City
10 min
In the early 1900s, the Savoy became one of the city’s fanciest steakhouses. Remember the Glennon Hotel, where Harry Truman owned a haberdashery? Well, when Truman got hungry after selling hats and ties, he would walk the few blocks to the Savoy Hotel for lunch. He always sat in Booth No. 4, where he liked to order a well-done steak with light vegetables.
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New England Building
10 min
The beautiful brownstone apartment building on our left is the New England Building. It might be hard to believe, but the New England Building was once the tallest building in the whole city! How times have changed!
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New York Life Building
10 min
This stately brick-and-brownstone building is the New York Life Building. When construction finished in 1890, the New York Life Building became Kansas City’s first skyscraper! If you’d like more about the construction of this skyscraper, click Learn More.
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Muse of The Missouri Fountain
10 min
That’s the Muse of the Missouri. Kansas City banker James Kemper commissioned this statue in 1962 in honor of his son, who was killed in action while fighting the Nazis during World War II. The statue depicts one of the Greek Muses carrying a fishing net. And, like so many of Kansas City’s statues, it’s also a fountain!
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Commerce Trust Building
10 min
As you admire Kansas City’s second-oldest skyscraper, let me tell you a little more about one of the most famous Confederate bushwhackers in Missouri history: William Anderson, also known as “Bloody Bill.”
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Ilus W. Davis Park
10 min
Mayor Davis first won election in 1963, in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. One of Davis’ most significant challenges came on April 9th, 1968. Just five days earlier, Martin Luther King Jr. had been murdered in Memphis, Tennessee.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.
Times are local to the experience (America/Chicago).
Additional Information
- Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
FAQs about Kansas City Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour
Can I cancel Kansas City Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour for free?
Yes. For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.
How long does it take?
It takes about 2–3 hours.
Where does it start?
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data.
What's included?
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's not included?
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Which places does it visit?
It visits Folly Theater, Jackson County Courthouse, Hotel Phillips Kansas City, Curio Collection by Hilton, Barney Allis Plaza, Mark Twain Statue, Majestic, Garment District, New England Building.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is offered in English.
Operated by History with Action
