The Blue Room

1616 E. 18th St., Kansas City
816/474-8463
www.americanjazzmuseum.com [1]

HOURS: Mon. and Thurs. 5–11 p.m., Fri. 5 p.m.–1 a.m.,
Sat. 7 p.m.–1 a.m.

COST: Free Mon. and Thurs., $10 cover Fri. and Sat.

Not many museums feature an adjacent live-music club, but it seems only natural that the American Jazz Museum [2] include a jazz venue to entice musicians from throughout the region.

Modeled after a 1930s nightclub, The Blue Room is an exhibit designed to showcase the city’s connection to jazz and its evolution. Nine tables grouped near the stage double as display cases for rare artifacts collected from Kansas City [3]’s musical prime.

The Blue Room also features memorabilia-filled shadowboxes and The Massenburg Mural, which according to American Jazz Museum literature “celebrates the history of jazz and the African-American experience through compelling interpretations of jazz legends and inspiring words.”