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| DESCRIPTION: Experience more than 90 years of Hallmark Cards' history presented through fun interactive exhibits, displays and videos that enable visitors to understand the creativity and craftsmanship involved in making Hallmark products. The Visitors Center is located at Hallmark's international headquarters in Crown Center, a shopping and entertainment complex developed by the company. |
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| ADDRESS: 2501 McGee Ave., Kansas City, Mo. |
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| LOCATION: On the east side of the Crown Center Complex, one mile south of downtown Kansas City, Mo. From Crown Center's parking garage, 2450 Grand Blvd., take the elevator to the third level of the Crown Center Shops. |
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| PHONE: 816-274-3613 |
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| WEB SITE: www.hallmarkvisitorscenter.com |
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HIGHLIGHTS:
- A timeline documenting the evolution of Hallmark's products over nine decades, including contributions by Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell and Maya Angelou.
- Visitors can observe Hallmark employees at work. Graphic arts technicians and press operators demonstrate the technical process behind a Hallmark creation.
- The J.C. Hall Christmas Tree Collection — 17 unique trees created by Hallmark employees as gifts for the company's founder.
- "Coming from the Heart" — a 13-minute film explaining how the Hallmark artists find their creative inspirations.
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| HOURS: Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat. Closed holidays and most holiday weekends. |
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| ADMISSION: Free. |
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| ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: Approximately 114,000. |
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| HISTORY: Opened to the public during Hallmark's 75th anniversary in 1985, the Hallmark Visitors Center chronicles the company's transformation from founder J.C. Hall's two shoeboxes of inventory to its reputation as an international icon with annual net revenues of more than $4 billion. Since its opening, the Hallmark Visitors Center has greeted more than 2.7 million visitors. |
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| WHERE TO GET LUNCH: The surrounding Crown Center offers many dining options, from a casual family meal at the world's only Crayola® Café to four-star service at The American Restaurant. |
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| WHAT'S NEARBY: Crown Center Shops, Union Station and the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial. |
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| HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES: The Passport, a colorful and entertaining stamping activity, guides visitors through the museum's telling of the Hallmark story. Visitors can also make their own souvenirs by using the museum's bow-making machine. |
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| GROUP TOURS: The Hallmark Visitors Center provides guided, one-hour tours to groups of 10 or more. Self-guided tours are available to walk-in groups and individuals with no reservation. |
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| PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take the MAX to the Crown Center stop. |
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DRIVING THERE: From Downtown: Take Broadway Boulevard south to Pershing Road. Turn left on Pershing onto Grand Boulevard to Crown Center parking.
From the north: Follow I-35 S and exit at 20th Street (Exit 1D). Turn left (east) on 20th Street and go nine blocks to Grand Boulevard. Turn right (south) on Grand and continue to Crown Center parking.
From the south: Follow I-35 N to the Broadway exit. Turn south (right) on Broadway and follow to Pershing Road. Turn left (east) at Pershing and go to Grand Boulevard. Turn right (south) onto Grand and continue to Crown Center parking.
From the east: Follow I-70 W to I-35 S. Take the I-35 S exit and follow to the 20th Street exit. Turn left. At Grand Boulevard, turn right. Proceed to the Crown Center parking garage on the east side of Grand.
From the west: Follow I-70 E to I-670 E. Exit I-670 to I-35 S. Exit I-35 S at 20th Street (Exit 1D). Turn left (east) on 20th Street and go nine blocks to Grand Boulevard. Turn right (south) on Grand and continue to Crown Center parking.
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| PARKING: Parking in the Crown Center parking garage, 2450 Grand Blvd., is free for the first three hours with validation. |
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| PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Mollie Cage at 816-274-5745 or mcage1@hallmark.com. |
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