Two-day art expedition offered in anticipation of City Hall and Missouri Theater centennial

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A local civic group is inviting residents to take part in a special two-day trip across the region to explore the legacy of a historic local artist integral to the creation of City Hall and the Missouri Theater.

In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of City Hall and the Missouri Theater in 2027, the Centennial Celebration Series committee and Friends of the Missouri Theater are organizing a unique two-day trip in April to explore art and architecture in Missouri and Kansas.

Residents who sign up for the trip will explore a number of historic sites and structures tied to the legacy of Waylande Gregory, a prolific artist and art-deco sculptor in the 1930s known for designing key elements for City Hall and the Missouri Theater.

Notable stops include the Mariana Kistler Beach Museum in Manhattan, Kansas, as well as the historic Hotel President in Kansas City and its Aztec Room designed by Gregory in 1926. The location appeared in the 1990 film "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge" starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

Participants will get the chance to travel and explore Strong Hall in Lawrence, Kansas, including a trip through the Flint Hills on the way to Alma, Kansas. The trip includes dining at places like Jack Stack BBQ in the Crossroads Art District and lunch at the historic 1887 Brandt House in Alma, Kansas, a historic limestone hotel renovated in 2024.

The two-day trip will concludes with a tour of the 1885 Columbian Theater, the Oz Museum, and dinner at Barleycorn’s Downtown Deli in Wamego, Kansas.

The trip costs $150 and covers transportation, three meals, snacks, and admission fees. Due to limited space, interested participants are encouraged to make a reservation by Jan. 30, 2026.

Hotel accommodation is not provided and must be booked separately by calling the Oread Hotel in Lawrence, Kansas, at 785-843-1200. Trip participants should ask for a room with the Waylande Gregory group. For a trip brochure, call 816-390-6733.

For more information, email CelebrationSeries2027@gmail.com or phone Committee Chair, Lori McAlister at 402-802-2099.