The Paseo YMCA is a U.S. historic YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri.

Paseo YMCA
Paseo YMCA is located in Missouri
Paseo YMCA
Paseo YMCA is located in the United States
Paseo YMCA
LocationKansas City, Missouri
Coordinates39°5′25″N 94°33′53″W / 39.09028°N 94.56472°W / 39.09028; -94.56472
Built1914
ArchitectCharles Ashley Smith
Architectural styleColonial Revival
MPS18th and Vine Area of Kansas City MPS
NRHP reference No.91001151[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 9, 1991

History

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One of the building's murals.

The Paseo YMCA opened in 1914, when Julius Rosenwald encouraged Kansas Citians to raise $80,000 toward building a new YMCA.[2] The architect of the Paseo YMCA was local architect Charles A. Smith.

In 1920 eight independent black baseball team owners met to form what would become the Negro National League.[3]

The facility closed in the 1970s.

Museum renovations

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In 2006, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum spearheaded an effort called "Thanks a Million Buck" to renovate the building and convert it to a research center and museum. The goal to raise a million dollars was quickly reached when John "Buck" O'Neil died in October 2006.[3] The YMCA was slated to re-open as the Buck O'Neil Education Research Center in 2007. However, that plan never came to fruition.

Citing a need for expanded museum space, the organization renewed the proposal to renovate and expand the facility on May 2, 2023, as a part of the "Pitch for the Future" campaign.[4] Organizers now hope for a 2028 opening.

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ OLD PASEO YMCA | Turning it into a tribute will take money, work
  3. ^ a b Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Announces “Thanks a Million Buck” Grassroots Campaign to Raise Funds For the Buck O’Neil Education & Research Center Archived 2006-11-15 at the Wayback Machine pdf
  4. ^ "Kansas City's Negro Leagues Museum plans to build new home". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.