KC Money Museum – Ka Ching!
One might not think the Federal Reserve would be a tourism draw. While it may not be high on many people’s lists, it is a worthwhile visit into the history of banking in the United States.
Twelve districts make up the Federal Reserve banking system. Each district has its headquarters. In District 10-J(the 10th letter of the alphabet), Kansas City is the headquarters. The district has branch offices in Omaha, Oklahoma City and Denver.
We toured the Money Museum on the main floor of the KC building. This is the only area open to the public. You have to have a valid ID to get inside. We received a free bag of money at the entrance. Of course, it was shredded up old dollars (total sum $165). Also, the shreds could not match up to be actual dollars, just in case you wondered.
The museum highlights the reserve’s history through a series of interactive stops. It also has a display case with significant dates and pieces of information. I found interesting a replica of the machine guns used for protection in the 1920s. 
In addition, there is a display of commemorative coins forged during each presidential administration. To see how coins have changed from the days of George Washington to the current Barack Obama administration was noteworthy. The goddess Liberty adorned the head side of early American coins. Later, we had the buffalo head nickel, depicting a Native American on the head side.
In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned President Abraham Lincoln be depicted on the penny. It occurred during the centennial of Lincoln’s birth.
Later, Thomas Jefferson replaced the buffalo head nickel.
We saw employees counting money on the first floor. They were in a secured area. Millions of dollars flow through the building any given day.
The museum offers a short film, which highlights the history of banking in the United States and the creation of the Federal Reserve.
[bctt tweet=”Get some free money at the Money Museum in @VisitKC #KC “]
As I mentioned earlier, it may not be a high spot on anyone’s to-see list, but the Kansas City Federal Reserve’s Money Museum is worth the stop. It was an interesting way to spend about an hour of our day.
