By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
Oct. 6, 2010

The roots of today’s American Royal can be traced to 1899 when the fledgling event was referred to as the National Hereford Show. Billed as the first nationwide show for the exposition and sale of purebred cattle, it took place during the month of October in a tent in the West Bottoms.

The three-day sale drew close to 55,000 people and featured roughly 300 Herefords that were sold at auction for a little more than $400 per head. For several years after that first show, the annual event was at a number of venues across Kansas City, including Electric Park, Convention Hall and, of course, the Stockyards.

The description on the back of this J. E. Tetrick Tetrick-color Photochrome postcard reads, “Home of the American Royal, Kansas City’s internationally famous horse show and livestock exposition.”

The original home of the American Royal was destroyed in a Valentine’s Day fire in 1925. It was rebuilt in time for the event that year and served as the center for events until the American Royal complex was built across from Kemper Arena in 1992. During World War II, the Royal complex was converted into a glider factory.

In 1926, the American Royal invited some local vocational agriculture students to judge the livestock show. During the 1928 American Royal, 33 of the students met at the Baltimore Hotel downtown and formed what would later become the Future Farmers of America. The group grew exponentially and held their convention every year during the Royal in Kansas City until 1998.

The view on the front of this card is looking north from the viaduct that runs the south end of the property. The Royal building was demolished in 1993 following the completion of the new American Royal complex.