By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
October 1, 2014

About two years after the opening of the “new” Hannibal Bridge over the Missouri River, Kansas City’s first Livestock Exchange building was constructed.

But prior to that time, the Stockyards were essentially large stock pens on five acres of open land on the East bank of the Kansas River about where 12th street would cross if it went through. The stock was watered at the river for convenience. At that time, a market was established here in Kansas City to serve the growing number of stock entering the city each day from the great western grasslands in Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Built in 1876, the first Livestock Exchange building was of Romanesque architecture and had a footprint of roughly 105 ft. by 127 ft. It stood three stories tall, featured a Mansard roof and was constructed for the then extravagant cost of $35,000. It was located just west of the state line, at 16th Street. Through the years, the building was added on to many times, sprouting “wings” and numerous additional floors. Some postcards of the day show livestock ramps running through the building at various levels.

The great flood of 1903, however, spelled the end for the old building after water 15-30 feet deep at times swept through the building and Stockyards killing hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and other livestock. Plans were henceforth drawn for the present Livestock Exchange building located at 1600 Gennessee. Ground was originally broken in 1909 (after the great flood of 1908) and the new facility was opened for trading in December 1911. The building is nine stories tall and was originally constructed with three wings off the back of the building stretching west toward the site of the old Livestock Exchange building which was razed upon the opening of the new building. Original cost of the “new” exchange building was $650,000.

The message on the back of the card, sent to Mrs. A. B. Williams of 365 Sherman of Denver Colorado, on February 9, 1920, reads: “Dear Lottie & babies. Sunday, p.m., just passed Raotn New Mexico. Am having fine weather. Haven’t seen snow. Papa seems to be getting along fine. Slept well last night. Hope all is well with you each and all. Love, Mother.”