⚾️ 18th & Vine District | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Wanting to learn more about American sports culture during my trip, I discovered this baseball museum located in the historic African American district of 18th & Vine—right next to the Jazz Museum 🎵—so I decided to check it out. However, after my visit, I’d say it’s more of a quick-stop attraction. 🎫 The ticket price is a bit high ($10 per adult), and the exhibition relies heavily on wall texts and printed materials. Unless you have a guided tour (which isn’t usually available), it’s easy to lose interest reading through everything. Here’s what’s inside: 1️⃣ Some physical artifacts like vintage baseballs, bats, and shoes 2️⃣ Detailed textual exhibits about the cultural background, history, and famous figures of the Negro Leagues 3️⃣ A small theater showing a short film (the highlight of the visit 🎬) 4️⃣ Modern installations recreating historical scenes and personalities 5️⃣ A mini baseball field layout showing player positions (very confusing without a baseball fan to explain!) 6️⃣ A gift shop selling team merch (on the pricey side) Since the experience was just okay, I skipped the Jazz Museum next door—assuming it’d be similar. One interesting note: all the staff are African American 👩🏾‍🦱👨🏾, and their mannerisms and vibe felt like something straight out of a movie—pretty cool to see! 📌 Two key takeaways: 1️⃣ Talent knows no race. Every gene pool holds unique value—it’s all about acceptance, exploration, and development. 2️⃣ While baseball has evolved with night games, artificial turf, and designated hitters, the ball itself has barely changed in over a century: Same size since 1876 Nearly identical materials since 1911 The biggest change? In 1974, horsehide was replaced with cowhide. A niche spot for hardcore baseball fans—but maybe not for everyone. #Baseball #NegroLeagues #KansasCity #TravelDiary #SportsCulture #MuseumExploration #USHistory