Wornall/Majors House Museum

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate! While it is true that most settlers to the Kansas City region in the mid-nineteenth century practiced some denomination of Christianity, Jewish life flourished here too. The first Jewish congregation in Kansas City, B'nai Jehudah, was established as early as 1870. Pictured: B'nai Jehudah Temple, pictured in 1933, courtesy of the Kansas City Public Library.

In accordance with the mayor's mandate, we are now requiring all visitors to wear masks when touring the John Wornall and Alexander Majors Houses. The Wornall House is open for self-guided tours Wednesday-Saturday 10AM-noon and 1PM-4PM, and Sunday 1PM-4PM. The Majors House is open for self-guided tours Thursday-Sunday 1PM-4PM.

Did you miss our Boots & Pearls online event this weekend? You can watch our video presentation at https://youtu.be/QBbtHPYtaD0 featuring historical information about the Wornall and Majors Houses, followed by a conversation with Councilwoman Kathryn Shields, fourth district at large.

Thanks to Councilwoman Kathryn Shields, 4th District at Large, for joining us for a pre-recorded message for our Virtual Boots and Pearls event!

As we watch returns slowly come in for the 2020 election, now is the perfect time to teach kids about how elections in America work, currently and historically. This Friday, the topic of our Youth Drop-in Day is Elections! Come by any time between 1-4 PM for family friendly activities. Cost is $5/child, with a $10 maximum cost per family. (Adults and kids under 5 free) Walk-ins welcome, but please be prepared to wear a mask!

Gang's all here for virtual Boots & Pearls tonight! You can still log in by visiting www.wornallmajors.org/virtual-boots-pearls.

Have you voted today? Some polling places have been changed due to COVID-19, so it might not be in your regular location! Find your polling place at https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/

This #GivingTuesday, will you consider a donation to Wornall/Majors House Museums? Our goal, as always, is to provide innovative and high-quality educational programs and to preserve our historic places, even if those programs may look a little different right now! Your gift helps to sustain us as we look forward to 2021, and we can't thank you enough for all your support.

Just for fun today, here's an interesting look at why Victorian houses in particular are thought of as creepy or haunted from an anthropological standpoint. In short: " The world had become a corrupt, dirty place, and Victorian-style houses were a physical manifestation of this stain; they represented the persistence of corruption and thoughtlessness that was thought to have originated in the Gilded Age." https://blogs.scientificamerican.com//why-are-victorian-h/

There's still time to purchase raffle tickets for our Boots & Pearls raffle! $25 to win one of four great items: pearl earrings from The Polished Edge Fine Jewelry, a $250 gift certificate for Nigro's Western Store No.1, Inc. - The Original, or one of two fine wine packages (valued at $210-219). Get your tickets through December 5 at https://virtualbootsandpearls.eventbrite.com.

Have you seen this strange figure at the Wornall House? #ghosttours

Whoa! Ghost Tours are sold out for every date except Friday, October 23. We are honored that you trust us to provide you with safe Halloween entertainment this year. If you missed your chance to get tickets, but still are looking for some spooky fun, we are offering a special social media discount for our Haunted History Tours at the Majors House. These tours are completely private - the Majors House is yours to explore using an all-new audio guide for up to 10 of your guests. Use code SOLDOUT at checkout to get $10 off, making your price just $14 per person if you bring 10 people.

Although neither Kansas nor Missouri officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, today we join those across the nation in honoring the many tribes that existed in the Americas in 1492 and those that still exist today. Their rich cultural traditions enrich us all. Learn more about Indigenous Peoples Day at https://www.history.com//goodbye-columbus-hello-indigenous.

There's still time to join us at the Wornall House for a concert with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra at 6pm!

Don't forget! This Sunday, we'll be joined by Kansas City Chamber Orchestra at 6PM on the lawn of the Wornall House for a concert of classical favorites. Food and drink will be available beginning at 5PM, so you can make a picnic of it! We'll also be offering extended house tours - the Museum will be open from 1-6PM. Chairs and picnic blankets welcome, we just ask that you just space yourself from other guests.

Every Friday in November and December (except Christmas), we will be offering a new Drop-in History Day for kids who are at home during the pandemic. Whether your child is homeschooling or a virtual or hybrid learner, this drop-in program gives children a safe hands-on learning experience on a variety of different social studies topics, from Elections to Native Tribes of Missouri. Registration is available, but not required - you can just drop-in from 1-4PM! Masks required for those over 5 years of age.

This Sunday join us at the Wornall House for socially distanced house tours, food trucks, and a concert with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. Sounds like the perfect fall weekend to us! The Waffler will even be on site with pumpkin spice waffles and cider.

Unfortunately, weather is not on our side this weekend, so the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra concert originally scheduled for this Sunday has been moved to Sunday, October 11. Hopefully we can all be a little toastier together in a couple of weeks!

Join us on the Wornall lawn this Sunday for a FREE concert with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra! Bring your chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy this awesome fall weather with us.

What a cool opportunity at the Majors House tomorrow! We also still have our mini exhibit up about suffragist Elinor Majors Carlisle in the museum. #vote