May 21, 1969
National Register of Historic Places - Wornall House
Statement of Significance: Wornall House is reputedly oldest surviving residence of historical significance in Kansas City. It is also architecturally important as one of earliest in its area to be built in Greek Revival style, then popular east of Mississippi River. During the Civil War Kansas-Missouri border conflict (1861), Wornall house used as headquarters of Union Colonel Charles Jennison, Seventh Kansas Cavalry. On August 25, 1863 "General Order Number Eleven" of Union General Thomas Ewing required evacuation of all southern sympathizers. Accordingly, house vacated by Wornall family after John B. Wornall failed to demonstrate Union loyalties. In Battle of Westport (October 23-24, 1863), Wornall house used as hospital and headquarters, first by Confederate then by Union troops. Union offensive to gain control of house still evidenced by shot pock marks on exterior walls. (History and Directory of Cass County, Missouri, Harrisonville, Missouri: Cass County Leader, 1908, pp. 122-128; John Edwards Hicks, "Frontier Cabins Give Way to Gracious Home," Kansas City Times, July 7, 1965, p. 28.) Wornall house owned and built by John Bristow Wornall, a native of Kentucky and resident of Westport after 1843. Wornall, a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen in Westport community, served as President of National Bank of Kansas City, Moderator of the (Baptist) Blue River Association, and Chairman of Board of Trustees of William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. Wornall Road, currently a Kansas City arterial, named for John B. Wornall. (John Edwards Hicks, "Frontier Cabins Give Way to Gracious Home," Kansas City Times, July 7, 1965, p. 28.) Wornall house architecture attributed to Asa Beebe Cross, renowned Kansas City architect for thirty years, and purported to be his first house in the area. This well-known point of local significance now under question. (See Katherine N. Taggart, Historian of Jackson County Historical Society, "The Research Historian," Skylines: Midwest Architect, October-November, 1967, p. 10.) House occupied by John B. Wornall descendants until early 1960s when acquired by Jackson County Historical Society for restoration as historic house museum.
National Register of Historic Places - Wornall House
Statement of Significance: Wornall House is reputedly oldest surviving residence of historical significance in Kansas City. It is also architecturally important as one of earliest in its area to be built in Greek Revival style, then popular east of Mississippi River. During the Civil War Kansas-Missouri border conflict (1861), Wornall house used as headquarters of Union Colonel Charles Jennison, Seventh Kansas Cavalry. On August 25, 1863 "General Order Number Eleven" of Union General Thomas Ewing required evacuation of all southern sympathizers. Accordingly, house vacated by Wornall family after John B. Wornall failed to demonstrate Union loyalties. In Battle of Westport (October 23-24, 1863), Wornall house used as hospital and headquarters, first by Confederate then by Union troops. Union offensive to gain control of house still evidenced by shot pock marks on exterior walls. (History and Directory of Cass County, Missouri, Harrisonville, Missouri: Cass County Leader, 1908, pp. 122-128; John Edwards Hicks, "Frontier Cabins Give Way to Gracious Home," Kansas City Times, July 7, 1965, p. 28.) Wornall house owned and built by John Bristow Wornall, a native of Kentucky and resident of Westport after 1843. Wornall, a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen in Westport community, served as President of National Bank of Kansas City, Moderator of the (Baptist) Blue River Association, and Chairman of Board of Trustees of William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. Wornall Road, currently a Kansas City arterial, named for John B. Wornall. (John Edwards Hicks, "Frontier Cabins Give Way to Gracious Home," Kansas City Times, July 7, 1965, p. 28.) Wornall house architecture attributed to Asa Beebe Cross, renowned Kansas City architect for thirty years, and purported to be his first house in the area. This well-known point of local significance now under question. (See Katherine N. Taggart, Historian of Jackson County Historical Society, "The Research Historian," Skylines: Midwest Architect, October-November, 1967, p. 10.) House occupied by John B. Wornall descendants until early 1960s when acquired by Jackson County Historical Society for restoration as historic house museum.
May 21, 1969
Posted Date
Aug 23, 2023
Historical Record Date
May 21, 1969
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
