07/21/2026
Some of our region's most significant historic landmarks, representing more than two centuries of history in Independence, MO, moved one step closer to funding a generational backlog of deferred maintenance. Tonight, the City of Independence, City Council voted 5–1 to place a proposed General Obligation bond ordinance on the August 3 City Council agenda for first reading, marking another important step toward giving voters the opportunity to invest in the future of the City's historic sites.
The proposal follows months of public discussion surrounding the long-term stewardship of Independence's publicly owned historic sites, including the 1855 Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 1881 Vaile Victorian Mansion, 1827 Log Courthouse, Truman Memorial Building, 1928 Fire Station No. 1, and other historic properties that help tell the story of Independence and the nation.
This spring, the City completed a Historic Sites Master Plan that identified significant deferred maintenance throughout the system and recommended consideration of transferring ownership of the Bingham-Waggoner Estate and Vaile Mansion to outside organizations. Those recommendations prompted strong public response. Residents, preservation advocates, volunteers, and supporters emphasized that these landmarks should remain publicly owned while calling for a realistic plan to address their long-term preservation.
In response, the City Council unanimously adopted a resolution earlier this month affirming its intent to retain ownership of the Bingham-Waggoner Estate and Vaile Mansion while pursuing additional funding for all city-owned historic sites. City staff now estimate that approximately $18 million will be needed to address deferred maintenance across the historic sites system, reflecting the needs of additional City-owned properties, rising construction costs, and other contingencies. The proposed General Obligation bond represents the only realistic long-term funding mechanism capable of addressing needs of this magnitude while ensuring these places remain publicly owned and accessible.
Historic Kansas City is proud to be a member of the Save Our Sites Coalition, alongside the Bingham-Waggoner Historical Society and the Vaile Victorian Society of the Vaile Mansion. We will continue working with our partners to educate the public about the importance of these irreplaceable historic places as the proposal moves through the legislative process and, if approved by the Council, to voters ahead of November 3.
Learn more about the issue, the historic sites involved, and why this effort matters:
https://www.historickansascity.org/team/independence-mo-historic-sites/
