John Wornall Home Tour - 3/18/2015

Our KCPL Power Partners retirement club toured the John Wornall home on March 18, 2015.  We had about 26 people in our group.  We split up into two groups with each group having a tour guide.  Even though the house was large for the day it was built, having 14 people in one room was pushing the limits of elbow room.  Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the home.

"Constructed in the year 1858 by John B. Wornall, the house stands as a reminder of Kansas City's past. Built in the Greek Revival style architecture with bricks hand-fired on the Wornall's property, this house is one of the four remaining Civil War period homes in the Kansas City area.

The story of the Wornalls begins in 1843 in Shelbyville, Kentucky. John Wornall's forty-four-year-old father, Richard Wornall had experienced extreme financial embarrassment due to his struggling business, which consisted of mule and horse trade. With his debts totaling almost $25,000, Richard sold 640 acres (2.6 km²) of Shelby County land, thirteen slaves, most of his livestock, farm equipment, household utensils and crops to his debtors. With the remnants of his money, Richard Wornall, his wife Judith, and their two sons George Thomas and John Bristow started the 600-mile (970 km) trek to Westport, Missouri. Upon arrival in Westport in October 1843, Richard Wornall purchased a 500-acre (2.0 km²) farm from the town father, John Calvin McCoy. The land, for which Wornall paid $5 per acre, stretched between present-day 59th and 67th streets, State Line and Main Street in what is now Kansas City.

Richard and Judith's second son, John B. Wornall, eventually inherited the property and built the house for his second wife, Eliza S. Johnson Wornall, which still stands today.

During the American Civil War, the Wornall's home was used as a field hospital for both the Union and Confederate forces after the Battle of Westport.

The historic house museum is furnished to represent the daily life of a prosperous, pre-Civil War family."

The living room features a Coffin style Grand Piano.  When a family member passed away, the coffin would be put on top of the piano and would remain there for several days with a constant vigil being kept be a friend or family member.  This room was used primarily for entertaining guests and for other formal events.

This corner of the living room was used for courting.  The visiting courter could stay as long as the candle burned.  If "dad" didn't like the courter, he made sure the candle would burn out quickly by adjusting the candle holder.

This is the parlor room where the family spent most of its time together.

They played early board games for entertainment.

Our tour guide at the home was a wealth of information.

Leg irons used for prisoners and perhaps slaves.

A civil war era sword.

The dining room.  If you look closely inside the wall cabinet, you can see a pass through to the kitchen.

1850's vintage kitchen implements.

The kitchen hearth.

The children's bedroom.

The Master Bedroom.

John Wornall's rocking chair.  John had a bad back.

Note the pot under the bed.  My grandfather's house in Minnesota had these and I used them to avoid trekking out to the outdoor privy (100 ft from the house) in the middle of the night.

After the tour, the group reconvened at Michael Forbes Bar & Grill in the Brookside area of Kansas City for a nice lunch.

Another nice outing with the club.

King Tut Exhibit at Union Station in Kansas City - 8/12/2014

On another of our KCPL Power Partner monthly outings, we toured the King Tut Exhibit at Union Station in Kansas City on August 12, 2014.  We had about 30 people in our group this month.  Our friend, Edel, joined us on this adventure.

It wouldn't seem that looking at replicas would be satisfying to the history buff but the replicas are unbelievably good.  They were done by Egyptian craftsmen who had access to the original items.  The only way to see the originals now is to travel to Cairo, Egypt and then you would not be able to see them all since most of the originals are kept away from public view.  They even have replicas in Cairo for the public.  It is said that the replicas are so good that they made one Egyptologist cry with joy when he saw them for the first time.

In creating the replicas, they used lots of high tech tools like laser scanners and 3D printers.  The 3D printer was used to create the mummy of King Tut.  It is so realistic that it almost smells.

The photo below is of the side entrance to Union Station as you leave the parking garage.  Most photos of the Station are from the front.

One of our group's organizers, David Martin, greeted Sigrid in King Tut style.

I am not going to try to identify every item in the exhibit.  I recommend that you visit the exhibit yourself, even if it means travel to do it.  The exhibit is worth travelling to see.

Audio players were provided to provide personal commentary as you moved through the exhibit.  The exhibit is self guided so people move at their own pace....a good idea.  The commentary is excellent.

The Rosetta Stone is written in three languages.

A life sized statue of King Tut.  He became a pharaoh at age 8 and died mysteriously about age 19.  His successor destroyed much of the evidence of Tut's existence after his death.  That is why Tut is referred to as the forgotten King. 

This is what Howard Carter, the person who discovered the tomb, saw in the ante room before the main chambers were excavated.

This is the replica of King Tut's mummy.

Sigrid and Edel really enjoyed the exhibit.

Lunch for the group followed the tour.  We ate at Harvey's in the grand hall of Union Station.

A crab cake on polenta for Sigrid.

A good ole bacon cheese burger for me...really good.

Sigrid and Edel visit with other retirees at our table.  We had five tables at Harvey's for lunch.

It was another great event for the club.  Go and see the exhibit if you can.