Sister Madeline Dorsey during the march at Selma. (Contributed | Maryknoll Sisters)
Sister Madeline Dorsey during the march at Selma. (Contributed | Maryknoll Sisters)

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The Top 10 Most Popular curiousKC Stories This Year

June 22, 2020  |    |  1 min read

The past few months have been ones of reflection and learning. So our team decided to dig into the curiousKC archives to find stories you might not know and want to learn more about. 

First, though, we took a look back and found the 10 most popular curiousKC stories so far this year.

Followers of curiousKC sent us questions about faith, history, culture and more, reflecting the breadth of diversity in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

In addition to the top 10 most popular stories, we have curated stories from the past few years that are relevant to current events. These are stories that educate us on how Kansas City evolved and that shine a light on the people who live here.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to submit new questions. 

Our Top 10

Unearthing the Truth About Slave Burial Sites at KCI There’s a persistent rumor in local circles that part of Kansas City International Airport was once a slave graveyard.  The topic crossed Flatland’s radar when an anonymous contributor asked the curiousKC team to see if there is “any truth to…

curiousKC: The Missing ‘Billy Smith Tree Climbing Expert’ PSA Flatland’s curiousKC set out to answer the question: What ever happened to that old KCP&L “Billy Smith Tree Climbing Expert” PSA?

curiousKC: Winning Access to Fairyland Park Kansas City’s Fairyland Park was a focus of civil rights activists before voters approved a public accommodations ordinance in 1964.

How Is ‘Switzer Road’ Really Pronounced? curiousKC investigates the history behind the name Switzer Road.

curiousKC: A Visual History on Racial Distribution in the Metro Is KC divided into different racial groups? curiousKC investigates. And the short answer: yes. See why.

The Story Behind Naming a Restaurant “Sambo’s” The curiousKC team explores the history behind the naming of the Sambo’s restaurant chain, which once had more than 1,100 locations across the country.

curiousKC: What are the Chiefs Doing Stuck at Home? Flatland reader Jennifer Pilcher wanted to know what the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs are up to stuck at home.

Pandemic Compounds Child Care Crisis During a Summer Like No Other As the Kansas City area struggles to reopen the economy, job call-backs are exacerbating a child care crunch.

Taming the Mighty Mo Port KC President and CEO Jon Stephens provides a brief curiousKC history of the channeling of the Missouri River.

A Tale of Two (Kansas City) Royals How did the Kansas City Royals get its name?

Relevant Stories

The Rise and Fall of a Boomtown Get a deeper history of the port town of Quindaro and hear from a local woman who used our curiousKC initiative to ask why excavations had not been finished for the important site.

How One Kansas City Hospital Treated Segregation in the ‘50s Queen of the World Hospital was a beacon of unity at a time when black and white citizens were segregated. “Non-white” Kansas Citians – categorized as black and Mexican at the time – had limited options for health services.

Kansas City’s Clash of The Titans Learn the history of the short-lived Monarchs and Blues baseball rivalry in the ’20s.

How Should Police Officers Combat Stress? Clinical psychotherapist Pat Hinkle was a police officer for 30 years before starting his counseling practice to help other officers work through stress and trauma. During his time as an officer, Hinkle recognized that there was a disconnect between police…

In Kansas and Missouri, Immigrants are Rooted in the Agriculture Workforce This curiousKC report looks at immigrant labor in agriculture today and its history. We spoke with an economist, an immigration attorney and former farmworker to learn more.

What More Latinx Murals in KC Mean For Representation curiousKC investigates the question: ‘Why aren’t there more Latinx murals in Kansas City?”

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Nick’s Picks | Sports, Shopping, Stamps and More …

July 13, 2026

Workers set about dismantling Kansas City’s World Cup Fan Fest site, Costco plows ahead with plans to reshape Midtown Store, stamp costs on the rise again and more …

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