If you like a bit of history with your beer or burger, be sure to head for Kelly's Westport Inn, in Kansas City's Westport district. During the westward movement in the mid-1800s, Westport was a "re-fueling" stop where wagon trains could replenish their provisions for the long trip ahead.
In 1852, the Ewing brothers, traders from Logansport, Indiana, built the brick building on the northwest corner of what is now the intersection of Pennsylvania and Westport Road, and set up an outfitting store for wagon trains heading west. In 1854, the building was sold to Albert Gallatin Boone, the grandson of explorer, Daniel Boone. Albert Boone ran a mercantile business, but was also known to be involved in slave trading. For that reason, the building also became a gathering place for pro-slavery forces before the Civil War.
However, as the was escalated and Union troops converged on Westport, Boone decided to not only get out of the slave trading business, but he also chose to hightail it out of town. He left Westport in 1859 to become one of the first citizens of Denver, Colorad, and sold the store to Robert Campbell from St. Louis, Missouri.
The building continues to be known as the Ewing-Boone building - the oldest brick commercial building in Kansas City - but is now occupied by one of Kansas City's most popular watering holes, Kelly's Westport Inn. Stop in sometime and drink up a little history.
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