‘Cultural touchstone’: Historic 18th and Vine landmark breathes new life

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The 18th and Vine District serves as an iconic hub for culture in the Kansas City area. To add to its rich history, leaders are renovating and reintroducing the Boone Theater.

On Thursday morning, dozens gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony at the historic landmark. A number of city leaders and innovators offered remarks and emphasized the building’s importance to the district.

The Boone Theater is in the heart of the 18th and Vine District on 18th Street and Highland Ave, across the street from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

According to historical records, the building opened as the New Rialto Theater in 1924 and was known as the Scott Theater throughout the 1940s.

Since then, the theater has gone through a number of iterations, most recently an armory for the National Guard in 1971. The building has sat vacant ever since.

Over 50 years later, the Boone Theater will be designed to house the Black Movie Hall of Fame, movie theaters, and music studios.

“We want to create a vibe, a cultural vibe,” Black Movie Hall of Fame Director Shawn Edwards said. “Hopefully the 18th and Vine District becomes a black cultural touchstone where people come from all over the world to celebrate.”

There isn’t a set timeline for when the project will be complete, but the plan is to finish before Kansas City hosts the World Cup in 2026.

To get the latest news sent to your phone, download the KCTV5 News app here.