A brief history of Troost Avenue, historically referred to as the racial dividing line in Kansas City.

2. • TROOST is Dutch for
Comforter, ‘Paraclete’. The same
root gives us the words: “tree,
trust, true.”
• Troost Avenue: former
canoe trail of 18th century
Osage Nation.
• In 1808, most of the Osage
lands were sold to the U.S,
including present day Troost
Avenue.

3. Dr. Benoist Troost (1786-1859)
First Resident Physician in KC
Founding Father; Dutch Slave Owner

4. Porter Slave Plantation: 1832-1865
• 365 acre plantation owned by
Rev. James Porter
• 40-100 slaves, including
Simon (bought in 1829), Aunt
Ann, and ‘Fiddlin’ Dick’
• Stretched from 23rd to 31st
Streets, Locust Ave. to Vine
St.
• Big House at 2709 Tracy
• Slave Quarters surrounded
the house in a semi-circle,
west of Tracy
• Forests cleared to become
housing, crops, orchard, and
pasture land

5. 1911 Drawing of 1833 Porter Home
The Big House: 2709 Tracy

6. Map of Porter Plantation

7. The forests on Porter land
were cleared by the slaves
Missouri Forest 1888

8. The Porter land, north of 27th Street,
became grazing pasture for livestock
Missouri Pasture Land on Leunen Farm

9. The Porter cornfield was between
30th - 31st on Troost
Common Cornfield

10. The Porter Fruit Orchard was between
27th & 28th, and Forest & Troost
Missouri Fruit Orchard

11. Water Supply was
Troost Lake (a natural spring)
Troost Lake with Boat House & Boats: 1890

12. Plantation Became Millionaire’s Row: 1865-1912
2709 Tracy Ave.
• Home of Mrs. W. Ewing Hall (granddaughter of Rev. James
Porter) at former site of “big house”.
• After Civil War, Porter family began to sell lots
• Porter and Hall made a fortune in Real Estate

13. “Millionaires’ Row”: 1890’s
R.W. Hocker: 2425 Troost

14. “Millionaire's Row” (cont): 1890s
Dr. Flavel & Mrs. Tiffany: 2457 Troost

15. “Millionaire's Row” (cont): 1890s
F. L. Kaufman: 2817 Troost

16. “Millionaire’s Row” (cont): 1890s
W. J. Smith: 3000 Troost

17. 3100 block of Troost: 1890
Home of L.V. Harkness (richest man in KC) in foreground;
Home of Webster Withers in background

18. 3101 Troost: 1890
Residence of Webster Withers

19. Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1916
Paul L. Westover Bldg; 2nd Church of Christ Science

20. Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1926
Price’s Candies; Isis Theater; 2nd Church/Christ Science
(looking north)

21. Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1929
Price’s Candies; Isis Theater (looking south)

22. Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1935
Looking South from 31st and Troost

23. Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1954
PARADE: KC BLUES (farm team for NY Yankees)
Sponsored by S. Central Business Assn.

24. Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1955
North view from Woolworth's Building

25. 3101 Troost: TODAY
Friendship Dance: Troost Festival 2006

26. Overview of Troost (cont)
• Millionaire’s Row: 1865 -1912
• City in a city: 1912 -1950
• Walt Disney: 1920-1922
• Jazz District: 1917-1939
• Immigrant Center: 1912-1950
– Jewish, Greek, Irish, African American
• White Flight: 1950s - 1980s
• Civil Rights: 1954 - 1968
• MLK and Riots: 1968
• Urban Redevelopment: 1968 -1985
• Ghost Town: 1985 – 2000
• Gentrification: 2000 – Present
• Troost Folks: 2004 - Present
• Future: TROOST VILLAGE -
Development without Displacement

27. References
DeAngelo, D. (1995) What about kansas city! a historical handbook. Kansas City:
Two Lane Press, Inc.
Photos and Illustrations
Claymore-Osage Indian (2006, May 23). Courtesy of Osage Nation in Pawhuska,
OK.
Cornfield. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from http://image02.webshots.com/2/6/91/84/81869184OTdXKJ_fs.jpg
Missouri Fruit Orchard. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from
http://www.bakerealty.com/missouri%20ozark%20photos.htm
Missouri Grazing. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/
leunenfarms/Photo%20Gallery.htm
Missouri Forest. Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives.
Missouri Valley Special Collection Room of the Kansas City Public Library.
Articles and photos from The Kansas City Star and The Kansas City Journal.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. George Caleb Bingham, American, 1811-1879"
Dr. Benoist Troost, ca. 1859. Weblink: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/CollectionDatabase.cfm?
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. George Caleb Bingham, American, Mary Ann
Troost, ca. 1859. http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/CollectionDatabase_ImageView.cfm?id=28964
theme=American