Holy Name Catholic Church, Catholic church in Benton Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri.
Holy Name Catholic Church is a Late Gothic Revival structure designed by the firm Wight & Wight in 1928, rising prominently along Benton Boulevard in Kansas City. The building displays characteristic Gothic features including pointed arches and vertical stone walls that define its appearance.
The church was built in 1928 to serve an affluent white congregation but gradually became a center for the African American community by the late 1960s. This shift in membership mirrors the broader demographic changes that reshaped Kansas City itself.
The congregation reflects the neighborhood's shifting population, showing how the community changed hands across generations. Walking through today, you notice it serves as a gathering place for people from the area's diverse background.
The church is easily accessible via Benton Boulevard and its exterior Gothic features can be appreciated from the street. Check ahead about service times or community events to confirm if the interior is open to visitors.
Police used tear gas inside the church building during a 1968 civil rights protest, a moment that exposed the depth of local racial tensions. This incident made the location a significant site for understanding the city's turbulent history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
