3113. Go to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City

When planning our trip to Kansas City, we wanted to make sure we went to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Anytime there's a sport (or car) in the name of place the hubby will pretty much be game to go unless it's soccer -- he hates soccer. Since the Negro Baseball Museum and the Truman house and museum were relatively close together, we could make this happen.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is in downtown Kansas City. It is in the same building as the American Jazz Museum. That should have my first clue that this is not a huge museum. It is $10 a person to visit the Negro Leagues Museum but we had a Groupon so we paid $9 for both of us. I believe there is a combo ticket for both museums.

The building takes up less than a city block and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is in only half the building. It's not a large museum by any means. The biggest problem with this museum is that it's L shaped with several small rooms (bathroom sized) off the L. Since it's L shaped there is only 1 way to really go through the museum which is fine unless there is a tour group that takes up half of the main hallway. Either you join the snail pace tour group and learn extraneous facts about the museum or you are forced to miss a few pictures and exhibits while trying get around the tour group. I don't even know why they allow tour groups.. you really don't need a guide.

I have to admit I find the Negro League fascinating and I am excited that there is a museum that tells the history of the league. However, there is not a lot in the museum. I was expecting a smaller version of Cooperstown. It is not. There's a few displays about traveling and teams but it's mainly bios about the various players and not that many bios at that.

The best feature of the entire museum is the baseball diamond. It has statues at the various baseball of a great Negro League Player at the position and a fake dugout. That takes up half the museum.

Neither the hubby nor I were overly impressed. We are glad we checked it and am glad we only paid $9 because that's about what it's worth. We were probably there about 30 minutes. It has potential but it's really underwhelming. The worst part there were no mini bats for sale in the gift shop.

I have to say though any baseball fan should check it out when in Kansas City.. just make sure you avoid the tour groups and you will probably have a better experience than we did.