You're invited: City to host African American Heritage Trail launch event

The public is invited to join in celebrating the launch of Kansas City’s African American Heritage Trail.

The event will bring together historians and filmmakers to highlight the online virtual trail that will serve as a dynamic and evolving guided tour the Kansas City’s historic cultural sites.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, 3700 Blue Pkwy., Kansas City, Mo.

A wide collection of historians, civic leaders and organizations spent the past year engaging the community in conversations, conducting research and gathering the detailed information that is now available on the website at aahtkc.org.

But that is only Phase 1. The Trail will continue to be a living, evolving, dynamic project built through the power of the community.

The launch event will gather project representatives to highlight the trail site and give information on ways the public can share content to include on the website. Then, a pair of local filmmakers will make presentations:

Nicholas Wiggins will discuss his recently released documentary “Land of Opportunity” that sheds light on the fight for housing rights in the historic Santa Fe neighborhood.

Megan Voepel will preview her upcoming release that explores the subject of tribalism, as it relates to urban development. Intended to be part one to a documentary series, “Tribe” will take a new look at historic dividing lines across the United States.

The African American Heritage Trail is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office.

For more information, contact the KCMO Historic Preservation Office at KCHP@KCMO.org or (816) 513-2902.

The history of Kansas City’s General Hospital No. 2, with a locator map, is one of the many sites detailed on the African American Heritage Trail website.