In 1940, over a period of eight months, more than 58,000 images of Kansas City structures were photographed and assembled as the 1940 Tax Assessment Photograph Collection.

After receiving the collection in 2011, The Kansas City Public Library digitized the folders, adding descriptions and location information to help the community locate, interact with and enjoy the photographs.

View buildings, homes, stores, shops, banks, schools and parks which, all together, convey a sense of what life was like in Kansas City at that time. Browse the collection, download images and contribute your own knowledge by adding location information through this site.