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Showing Our Gratitude for Multicultural Experiences in Kansas City

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Union Station is proud to be a major part of Kansas City’s living history. Since we opened our doors in 1914, we have continued to host millions of travelers from all over the world. From our earliest days to the civil rights movement to the 2026 World Cup, the City of Fountains has become a hub for international culture. To celebrate the many faces that make up our home, Union Station is taking a look at the history and future of multicultural experiences in Kansas City.

The Melting Pot of the Midwest

We start by getting to know the many cultures that came to Kansas City, starting even before Union Station was built. Western expansion provoked millions of immigrants to ride the rails and the trails as they searched for new opportunities. Because of our central location and trademark hospitality, Kansas City quickly became a melting pot in the Midwest.

Our earliest immigrant population arose from Europe and South America. Less than a decade after its official incorporation, Kansas City became a home for migrant workers looking to live the American dream. A large population of Irish and Latino immigrants helped shape the landscape of Kansas City that we know today. These migrants paved the streets (1), cut limestone, and built Union Station. Their hard work led to families, communities, and organizations that continue to celebrate heritage with multicultural experiences in Kansas City.

Kansas City is also home to a thriving Asian-American community. Over 45,000 Asian Americans call the City of Fountains their home. Since before WWII, Asian families have continued to build communities and share their culture. As one of the oldest Asian-American populations, the KC Chinese Association hosts cultural events to share traditions and experiences with their neighbors. Other thriving community organizations include the Filipino Association of Greater KC, the Indian Association of Kansas City, and the Islamic Center of Kansas City. The diverse cultures of our citizens from around the world have come together in the many multicultural experiences in KC over the years.

Ethnic Enrichment

In 1976, Mayor Wheeler introduced the first Ethnic Enrichment Commission in Kansas City. The KC EEC provides outreach programs, preserves ethnic heritage, and hosts the annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival. This three-day festival celebrates the diverse cultures that call Kansas City home. In addition to great food and entertainment, people from all walks of life come together in Swope Park to share one of the most popular multicultural experiences in Kansas City.

The Golden Spike

To share the multicultural history of the very rails that built Kansas City, Union Station hosted Spike 150 on the Driving of the Spike road tour. On this tour, the Golden Spike Monument was proudly displayed outside Union Station to celebrate the thousands of rail workers from all over the world. Artist Douwe Blumberg (2) created every hand-sculpted relief to share the stories of each culture that came together to build the US railway. 

 

Blumberg (pictured above) wishes to share the depth and vibrancy of every culture highlighted on the Golden Spike. Douwe’s own devotion to multiculturalism goes deeper into this project because of his personal ties to the railroad. As his mother immigrated to California from Deutschland, she stopped for lunch at Fred Harvey’s in Union Station! Through his detailed reliefs on the Golden Spike, Douwe tells this important story so future generations may understand the incredible history their ancestors made. 

The Cup Comes to KC

Kansas City continues to make history by hosting the World Cup in 2026. As improvements continue around the city, the melting pot of the Midwest is proud to host the world’s game. This won’t be your average day on the pitch with the Current or the Sporting. This event takes years of preparation, dedication, and support from citizens of all cultures. In our long, winding history, this is one of the most significant multicultural experiences in Kansas City’s history. The future of culture in KC looks bright, but to learn the real stories behind the many cultures that call this city home, there’s only one place to look. 

Where the World Meets

Building the future takes people from all creeds, colors, and cultures, which is why we’re proud to build it here. Plan your visit to Union Station. We’re excited to welcome you aboard as you journey through Kansas City’s exciting multicultural history.

 

Sources:

  1. “How the Irish Laid the Groundwork for Downtown Kansas City.” KC History, https://kchistory.org/blog/how-irish-laid-groundwork-downtown-kansas-city.
  2.  Special thanks to Douwe Blumberg for talking with us about the Golden Spike.