4415 Warwick Blvd
Kansas City, MO, USA

National Register of Historic Places - August Meyer House (Vanderslice Hall)

Statement of Significance:

The August Meyer residence is significant to Kansas City for historical and architectural reasons. Meyer, a prominent Kansas City businessman and civic leader, was appointed President of Kansas City's first Park Board in 1892 and was largely responsible for the development of the city's park and boulevard system. The residence was built in 1895/96 from designs by the prominent architectural firm of Van Brunt and Howe.1 It is one of their few remaining residential works in Kansas City and is an excellent example of late 19th century Queen Anne architecture. The move of the prominent Meyer family from their home on Independence Avenue, in Kansas City's Northeast district, has been credited with sparking the exodus from that area to the Rockhill district.2 The home remained in the Meyer family until 1927 when it was purchased by Howard Vanderslice and given to the Kansas City Art Institute, a school that has played an important role in the cultural and educational development of Kansas City. Since that time, it has served as the Administration Building of the school, and is known as Vanderslice Hall. An auditorium was added to the residence in 1930.