A Special 50th ReVisit Tour
KC Symphony Alliance’s Designers’ Showhouse Celebrates 50 Tours of Kansas City’s Most Stately Homes
2019 is a very special year for the Kansas City Symphony Alliance (KSCA) as it marks their 50th consecutive tour of Kansas City’s longest running homes tour, the Symphony Designers’ Showhouse. The first majestic Designers’ Showhouse was presented to Kansas City in 1970. This philanthropic home tour project has enabled KCSA to contribute more than $5 million to the Kansas City Symphony and has been recognized nationally as an exemplary fundraising project.
As a tribute to the upcoming 50th Showhouse, the public is invited to revisit four glorious homes, each having been presented previously during the history of the tour. Showhouse homes from the 10th, 25th, 43rd and 49th tours will invite guests in to tour the first floor of these homes, each being decked out in its best finery. A special bonus home from the 18th Showhouse tour, The Historic Longview Mansion, will be open for a memorable evening event on Saturday, October 13th. This impressive home also graced the 25th Celebration ReVisit Tour of the Symphony Designers’ Showhouse homes in 1994.
The Historic Longview Mansion
2018 is a year of renewal for the 102-year-old Historic Longview Mansion, as a multi-million renovation has been taking place, restoring Lee’s Summit crown jewel to its original splendor.
At its roots, Longview Farm was the country estate of Kansas City lumber baron and philanthropist, R.A. Long. (1850-1934). Long’s city home was Corinthian Hall, now the Kansas City Museum. He also built the city’s first skyscraper, the R.A. Long Building at 10th & Grand, as a headquarters for his Long-Bell Lumber Company.
In just an 18-month time span, Longview Mansion and 50 other farm structures were constructed in 1913 and 1914. The workforce behind this project was immense, with over 50 Belgian craftsmen and 200 Sicilian stonemasons being among the 2,000 workers employed to turn 1,780 raw acres into the “World’s Most Beautiful Farm”.
The farm employed 200 people. There were 51 buildings on the property including a race track that seated up to 1,000 people; giant sparkling greenhouses; handsome barns with wood pegged floors for prize cattle and hogs; a police and fire department; a hotel for men; housing for employees; a church, and community newspaper.
Besides horses, Longview was known for its pure bred Jersey dairy cattle that provided pasteurized milk for the region, and for its greenhouses that produced prize winning roses and other flowers. Ahead of its time, this self-sustaining community had electricity, filtered water, steam heating, and indoor plumbing.
The Mansion was the jewel of the property. A massive 22,000 square foot structure, it boasts 48 rooms, 6 fireplaces, 14 bedrooms and 10 baths. It also claimed the first central vacuum system west of the Mississippi.
The 18th Showhouse Tour at the then referenced Longview Farms, raised $380,859.82 for the Kansas City Symphony. A record number of visitors lined the pathways along the gardens waiting for the opportunity to view Loula Long Combs’ home. This magnificent home will welcome visitors again in 2018 during the 50th ReVisit Tour.
Tour & Ticket Information
Friday, Oct 12th, 5-8 pm | Sunday, Oct 14th, 2-5 pm
$65 per person
Tour the First Floor of Homes from the 10th, 25th, 43rd and 49th Tours
Limited to the first 100 registered guests each day.
Saturday, Oct 13th, 4-7 pm
PLUS… a Special Evening Bonus Home at the Historic Longview Mansion, 7:30-10:30 pm
$100 per person
From 4-7 pm tour the First Floor of Homes from the 10th, 25th, 43rd and 49th Tours and then spend the evening at The Historic Longview Mansion enjoying heavy appetizers, a champagne toast and open bar.
Limited to the first 100 registered guests.
Saturday Evening ONLY
Celebration at The Historic Longview Mansion
Admittance only to the Historic Longview Mansion and Celebration
$75 per person | 7:30-10:30 pm
Enjoy heavy appetizers, a champagne toast and open bar
Seating is Limited
Transportation Requirements
Tour attendees will park at the Leawood Baptist Church at 83rd and State Line Road with complimentary bus transportation provided between the homes with ticket purchase. Busses will leave 15 minutes prior to tour start time and will return tour attendees 15 minutes after tour ends, allowing attendees 30-35 minutes per home. Transportation is not being provided for Saturday evening.
