As part of our Uncovering History Project, the Midtown KC Post is examining each block in Midtown. A set of 1940 tax assessment photos is available for many blocks.
A reader named Natalia asked us about her 3500 block of Pennsylvania. Since that’s right down the street from Midtown KC Post headquarters, and we are currently working on a book on Valentine neighborhood history, we’re happy to oblige.
Today’s slideshow photos feature 35th Street south to Valentine Road and Jefferson Street east to Pennsylvania Avenue.
Just east of these blocks on Broadway was the Kansas City Life Insurance Company at 3520 Broadway and the luxury Woodlea Hotel at 3544 Broadway, demolished in 1955 after Kansas City Life bought it. The Norman School is just to the west on Summit Street (Southwest Trafficway).
This Sanborn Fire Insurance map shows the homes, businesses and apartments as they stood around the time these photos were taken.
The photos show all of the buildings that existed when the 1940 tax photos were taken.
Maps and photos courtesy Kansas City Public Library Missouri Valley Special Collections.
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