The Historic Garment District Museum Closes on August 30, 2024
The Historic Garment District Museum, a 1,266 square-foot space located in the lobby of the historic Pointdexter Building at 801 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO., will close permanently on Friday, August 30, 2024. Changes in building ownership and use have precipitated the closure.
The Historic Garment District Museum will be open:
Thursdays and Fridays through August 30, 2024
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
General Admission is FREE with suggested donation of $5 per person.
Kansas City’s garment district (an area defined as between 6th and 11th Streets, and Washington and Wyandotte Streets) rose up around the wholesale business area of the City’s downtown after World War I and grew steadily to become, at its peak, one of the largest garment districts in the nation and the second largest industry and employer in Kansas City.
The Historic Garment District Museum was founded in 2002 by Ann Brownfield and Harvey Fried to commemorate the City’s garment district. Brownfield and Fried created the Garment District Collection that includes more than 350 garments made by local companies from the 1920s through 1970s, accessories, archives, and sewing equipment. At the Historic Garment District Museum, a rotation of approximately 20-25 items were on display.
Brownfield and Fried spent their professional lives working in Kansas City’s garment district. Ann was a clothing designer, and Harvey as a salesman for the family-owned garment business. Going through the Historic Garment District Museum with Ann or Harvey was a special experience as they gave you a first-person tour of the district through their lives as professionals.
In 2015, Brownfield and Fried decided to retire. They made the joint decision to donate the Garment District Collection to the Kansas City Museum (KCM) and requested that the KCM operate the location. The KCM has a stellar collection of historical clothing, textiles, and costumes, which comprises more than 20,000 items and is one of the best collections of its kind in the region.
The KCM was honored to acquire and care for the Garment District Collection and has been proud to operate the location for nearly 10 years. The Garment District Collection will be renamed the Ann Brownfield & Harvey Fried Historic Garment District Collection, and the KCM is making plans to ensure the history and collection remain a priority for research and display through exhibits, programs, and experiences at the KCM, located at 3218 Gladstone Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64123. The KCM is also open to explore partnerships to support future displays and programs in the City’s historic garment district and digitally.
The Historic Garment District Museum will be open:
Thursdays and Fridays through August 30, 2024
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
General Admission is FREE with suggested donation of $5 per person.
No appointment is required and paid metered street parking on Broadway and 8th Street is enforced on weekdays.
To learn more, please contact:
Denise Morrison
Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs
dmorrison@kansascitymuseum.org
Please write HGDM Tour in the subject line of the email.
Helpful Tips/Items to Consider:
At the entrance on 8th and Broadway, there are numerous steps outside the building and one set of steps inside. If your party needs an accessible entrance to the building, please contact the Kansas City Museum in advance at 816.702.7704 and we will provide directions to the accessible entrance.
Parking is available on Broadway Blvd. and 8th Street; both are paid metered.
There is one single restroom onsite.
You should allow yourself a minimum of 30 minutes to view everything.
There are approximately 20-25 items on display plus some machines, photos, and ephemera.
Museum staff does not provide a guided tour; staff will introduce the space, give a general introduction about the Garment District and answer questions.