Honoring the jazz greats—Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and more—the American Jazz Museum celebrates the soulful musical art form from big band to bebop.

The museum's location in the 18th & Vine Jazz District couldn't be more appropriate. In the 1920s, this was Kansas City's hot spot for famous performers, like the George Lee Orchestra, Count Basie, and Bennie Moten.

Dedicated to preserving the history of jazz and its influence on countless musical styles, the museum fuses visual and audio highlights of the genre, defining its origins and capturing its intoxicating, dynamic sound. Album covers and photographs line the walls, telling the stories of artists and masters of syncopation and improv. Interactive exhibits, memorabilia, and films pay tribute to every element of the music. At Studio 18th & Vine, visitors can create their own moody mixes of rhythm and harmony, and sample more than 100 recordings of the finest jazz compositions ever created.

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