by Brittany Rees & Lisa Peña
Look at that grade! Can you imagine riding the streetcar West Bottoms up the steep hill to Quality Hill?
Photo credit: KC Library, Missouri Valley Special Collections
In 1878, 24-year-old “Rapid Transit Pioneer” Robert Gilham (of Gilham Road) arrived in Kansas City from New York and experienced the slow public transportation of the time, horse drawn wagons. He put his dreams into action by reforming our transportation system and the 9th Street incline was born in 1885. Nestled in the bluffs of Quality Hill, the cable car brought passengers from Union Depot, the precursor to Union Station, to the business center of Kansas City.
During this time, Kansas City had the third largest cable car line, behind San Francisco and Chicago.
The inaugural run of the 9th St Incline was full of prominent citizens, the grip man, and the brakeman. This ride was so intimidating that only the grip man and brakeman completed it – the citizens jumped off!
And they had good reason, at nearly 20% grade, this incline was scary! The streetcar line was known to snap and at least one incident caused a fatality.
Just three years later, to help alleviate the grade, Robert developed another cutting edge design – the 8th street tunnel. This tunnel brought visitors and residents from The West Bottoms up 8th street and right out to the Garment District (have you ever seen the Needle Sculpture? That’s the site!) This tunnel was actually built twice in order to reduce the grade even more.
We did the research for you! Come join our History of Transportation Hikes to learn more about the cable car system and other fun facts!
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