New York Life Building

Built in 1890, Kansas City’s first skyscraper and the city’s first building with an elevator, the New York Life Building symbolizes the city’s transformation into a major commercial hub.

New York Life Building

20 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO 64105 (Map)
Built: 1890
Architect/Style: McKim, Mead, and White // Italianate Renaissance Revival
Area: Library District

The New York Life Building in Kansas City is an architectural gem that embodies the city’s rapid growth during the late 19th century and its evolution into a significant business hub. Located in the Library District, this 12-story, 180-foot high-rise at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Ninth Street was completed in 1890.

Its construction was commissioned by the New York Life Insurance Company and designed by the notable New York architecture firm of McKim, Mead & White, a firm known for its influence on American architecture at the turn of the century.