How often do you walk down a familiar street without noticing what’s around you? Kansas City is full of little details that tell big stories. From artwork tucked into an alley to fossils preserved in stone, some of the city’s most interesting discoveries are hiding in plain sight.
Next time you’re out exploring, slow down, look a little closer and see what you can find.
FOSSILS HIDDEN IN LIMESTONE
Take a closer look at the limestone found in some of Kansas City’s rock faces and you may spot something unexpected: fossils. When you join the Library District or the Hilly Historic Northeast Urban Hikes you can glance into history over 300 million years old! We travel on foot and look for glimpses into a much older landscape, long before today’s streets, storefronts and neighborhoods existed. The next time you pass a rustic limestone in a park or in the city, see if you can spot evidence of the life preserved within the stone. Read more
A TOWN HIDDEN IN THE RUINS
Did you know that urban hikers can find the foundation of buildings from the 1800s including a brewery rebuilt to match the original structure from the 1860’s, hotels and a natural steam boat landing near Sewell Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas? The Quindaro Ruins Urban Hike lets explorers navigate through remains hidden in a Quindaro neighborhood that includes a once-thriving town that also served as a vital port of entry and a beacon of hope for those seeking freedom via the Underground Railroad.
Join us on a hike to explore the Quindaro Townsite
A BAT CAVE HIDDEN IN THE CITY
When you join Urban Hikes KC for the Rosedale Arch, Volker and Roanoak Bi-State hike, you’ll discover a hidden gem you might never expect to find in the city: a bat cave in Roanoke Park! Recently unsealed and fitted with a gate to protect bats and keep people safe, the cave is a reminder that some of Kansas City’s most interesting features are easy to miss.
Read more here or join us on this hike!
These are just a few examples of what makes exploring Kansas City on foot so rewarding. You don’t always have to travel far to discover something new!