Genealogy
Given the remarkable history of Independence, it only makes sense that the city also hosts one of the formative resources for genealogy research and learning.
When you visit the Midwest Genealogy Center, it’s hard to believe the 52,000-square-foot library — the largest freestanding public genealogy library in the U.S. — started as a collection of Missouri county histories stored in the Missouri Room at the Independence branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library.
By the mid-1970s, the collection needed more space and was moved to MCPL’s North Independence location, which became known as the Genealogy and Local History Branch.
Fast forward a few decades and, in 2007, construction began on the current Midwest Genealogy Center, which opened the following year.
“If these walls could talk, they would speak of the thousands of brick walls that were broken here,” wrote Shari Golden, Genealogy Reference Associate, in a blog celebrating the center’s 15th birthday. “They could tell of the stories shared by workers and customers that led to more discoveries. I also believe that they would speak of the growth of our collection and the number of people that have visited this space.”
It’s easy to get absorbed in the center’s vast research collection, but don’t forget to scout the events calendar for upcoming talks, workshops and other genealogy-focused events, including one-on-one appointments if you’d like guided help exploring your family’s history.
