Kansas City International Airport
Originally called Mid-Continent International Airport (hence the MCI designation)
Opened in 1956, Mid-Continent Airport served as a hub for Braniff Airlines and boasted the main overhaul base for Trans World Airlines (TWA). But the runways and terminals remained undersized for Kansas City’s main airport. Most passenger traffic to Kansas City continued to land at Municipal Airport, where large, fast jets still had difficulty landing on the smaller runways and taking off without hitting the skyscrapers.
In hopes of increasing flight capacity in and out of the city, TWA encouraged the expansion of Mid-Continent Airport. Proponents thought Kansas City had much to gain from a new airport, especially considering the city still had important ties to TWA. The airline originated here in the 1930s, employed more workers than any other business in town, and was among the most prestigious airlines in the world.
On November 11, 1972, the Kansas City International Airport officially opened for commercial service at the same Mid-Continent site. Built at a cost of $250 million, the ambitious design drawn up by the architectural firm of Kivett and Myers reflected TWA’s grandiose ambitions. In land area, the airport was the third largest in the United States. It featured an innovative “Drive to Your Gate” design that allowed passengers to park near the circular terminals and walk roughly 75 feet to their gates. Only flat farmland surrounded the airport, eliminating the risk of flooding on the high plateau and making it a practical location for large new jets such as the Boeing 747.
On November 17, 2017, Kansas City residents voted to approve construction on the newest addition to its hometown airport, with groundbreaking in April 2019. After years of planning and hard work, the New Terminal at Kansas City International Airport officially opened for travelers on February 28, 2023. The new facility replaced the three horseshoe-shaped, separate terminals from 1972.
Travelers visiting Kansas City International Airport will experience the largest public art project in Kansas City history. Artwork from local, regional, and international artists are featured throughout the terminal, parking garage, and concourses. The commissioned artworks range in medium from traditionally framed drawings, paintings and photography to textiles, floor mosaics, ceramics, mixed-media, assemblage, digital and electronic art displays, reliefs and sculptures.
To Claim this Cache: Please take a picture of yourself, or something with your caching name on it, in front of one of the myriad art installations found throughout the airport.
*****Please do not email/message the CO, just put the picture in your log. If there is no picture attached to your log, even if you email it to the CO, then your log will be deleted*****
-There is art found in areas that do not require a ticket, such as the parking garage and the main entry point into the departure area of the airport.
-If you are flying in and have a layover, art can be found in the concourse area, no need to leave the security area.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.