The West Bottoms Business Neighborhood
West Bottoms History
March 10, 1871 – The famed West Bottoms Stockyards is established.
April 7, 1878 – Union Depot Opens
1884: The 1404/06 W. 12th Street building is built, originally housing the Flint and Walling Manufacturing Co. They dealt in well supplies, wind engines and windmills.
October 9, 1896 – Rumley Tractor Building
March 17, 1903 – Flood of 1903. Massive impact on the Bottoms.
August 16, 1905 – American Royal starts in a tent
April 10, 1910 – Livestock Exchange Building
January 1, 1915 – 12th Street Viaduct completed. The iconic double-decker, reinforced concrete bridge becomes the first direct roadway between the bluff top and river bottom. (see "Kansas City, A Place in Time", published by the Landmarks Commission of Kansas City, MO. 1977)
May 1, 1949 – Golden Ox opens
June 1, 1949 – Rodeo included at the American Royal
July 15, 1951 – Flood of 1951. Massive impact on the Bottoms, again.
1959 – David Rielley establishes Reliance Paper Co. in KCMO
1965: The iconic 12th Street Viaduct is completely rebuilt. The upper deck is now a a four-lane thoroughfare. (see "Kansas City, A Place in Time" (etc).
October 1965 – American Royal Building Opens
1967: David and Berenice Rielley purchase the 1404 W. 12th Street building for their corrugated box business.
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1974 – Kemper Arena is Built
November 2022: The 1404 W. 12th Street building ("Reliance Building") is officially listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places.
