Traveling with the Jones

Billed as a “billion dollar experience‘, The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City offers free self-guided tours Monday through Fridays, excluding bank holidays.

With an out-of-town guest, we decided to check it on last Monday.

Since the The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is home to one of the region’s largest automated cash vaults in the area, security is taken seriously. Upon entering the Federal Reserve building at 1 Memorial Drive, you are advised that you be going through security screening and will need to produce a government-issued ID if you are 18 years or older.

After you past through a security screening machine and having your ID reviewed, you are given a tour badge to wear during your tour.

We were surprised to learn the tour is entirely self-guided, although groups of 12 or more can arrange a guided tour with several weeks advance notice. The museum has a number of interactive exhibits designed to explain how the Fed works, and how money is moved through the banking system and the economy.  Behind the glass walls at the back of the hallway (pictured above) is a fascinating view of money being sorted and cleaned, and also the automated vault where millions of dollars of cash are stored.

The Money Museum offers a self-guided audio tour that you can access by calling a local number on your cell phone, or taking a photo of the associated QR code.

One of the more interesting exhibits is the Truman Coin Collection which showcases coins produced by the U.S. Mint during each presidential administration.  Loaned to the Money Museum by The Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, this exhibit also recalls that in 1953,  following his second term as president of the United States, Truman leased office space on the eleventh floor of the Federal Reserve Bank’s previous headquarters at 925 Grand in downtown Kansas City. Truman used the office space until the Harry S. Truman Library opened in July 1957.

Displays in the Money Museum also explain how the Federal Reserve works to ensure economic stability for the United States.  The Federal Reserve System was created in 1913 and there are 12 total Federal Reserve Banks in the U.S., each covering a different geography.

It’s interesting that the Missouri is the only state to have two Federal Reserve Banks located within its borders – one in Kansas City and another in St. Louis.

The Money Museum provides numerous “fun facts” throughout the exhibits. For example, while the $100 bill has an average life span of 7.4 years, the typical $5 bill only stays in circulation an average of 1.33 years.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City receives, cleans and sorts cash daily.  Bills that are counterfeit are removed from circulation and turned over the the FBI.

Bills that are worn beyond their useful life as removed from circulation and shredded.

One of our favorite things about the visit is the free souvenir given to each visitor: a bag of shredded currency that is no longer fit for circulation.  Each bag is estimated to contain approximately $165 of shredded money.

Have you visited The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City? What was your favorite take-away?

Do you enjoy tours? Check out these other posts on tours from around the globe….

• Touring the 1700’s Great House and Sugar Plantation on a Shore Excursion from Falmouth, Jamaica
• Experiencing the Life and Lore of Colombo, Sri Lanka
• A Little Walk Through Little India with The Original Singapore Walks
• Touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook, Oregon
• Eating Our Way Through Budapest With Taste Hungary

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At first glance, this looks like a typical gas station at the corner of Mission and West 47th Street in Kansas City, Kansas.

Until you notice that there is a growing line, waiting outside to enter, at 11:05 am on a Monday morning.

We’ve waited in this line before, but gave up before our chance to enter. Standing on black asphalt in a long line that snakes around the corner and down the street on a hot day is just not something Mr. Jones is willing to do, no matter how good the food inside is supposed to be.

After all, it’s a barbecue joint in a gas station. And there are hundreds of good places to eat barbecue in Kansas City.

But then there is that recommendation by Anthony Bourdain.

In a September, 2011 article  in Men’s Health magazine, Mr. Bourdain named Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue as one of his 13 Places to Eat Before You Die, along with culinary legends such as the French Laundry in Napa, Per Se in New York City, elBulli  in Girona, Spain, and Jiro Ono’s Sukiyabashi Jiro in Toyoko.

Thanks to following Mr. Bourdain’s advice, we’ve enjoyed some terrific food in the most unlikely places– from a buffet restaurant in US hotel chain in Singapore to a Northern Thai restaurant in an obscure Las Vegas strip mall.

So last Monday when our good friend and fellow Bourdain-follower James was visiting from Alaska, we thought we’d beat the line by showing up at Oklahoma Joe’s (in the midst of changing it’s name to Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que) right when it opens at 11 am on Monday morning. In our past experience, 11 am on a Monday morning is generally an ideal time to visit hole-in-the-wall dining establishments recommended by Anthony Bourdain.

Our Monday morning strategy did not work at Oklahoma Joe’s. There was already a line at the door.

Once  you get inside Oklahoma Joe’s, the crowd continues.

The line does move fairly quickly. When it’s your turn to order, you need to know what you want.

While it a seems like there won’t be a place to sit, there is a strict policy against saving tables.  The Line Rules work.

We ordered the sliced beef brisket dinner with a side of BBQ beans. 

Plus the burnt end dinner with a side of spicy slaw.  NOTE: burnt ends are only available during the lunch hour on Mondays and Wednesdays, on a first-come, first-served basis. This might contribute to the Monday morning line.

We also wanted to try the pulled pork, so we ordered the Pig Salad – topped with warm pulled pork and loaded with pepperoncini under the pork.  The salad is best with the house creamy tomato dressing on the side.

Of course, you can purchase bottles of sauce to take with you. And fill your gas tank if you like.

The world-famous Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is worth waiting for, at least on a cool fall day.

Have you eaten at Oklahoma Joe’s?  What’s your favorite item on the menu? Please share in comments below. 

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Tampa, Florida is home to the Rays, the Buccaneers, and Busch Gardens.

But do you know these 10 fun facts about the Tampa Bay area?

1.  Tampa is the only city that gets invaded by pirates every year.

Every year in late January-early February, Tampa gets invaded by pirates on their yearly Gasparilla festival.  See the invasion, the parade, the street festival, the fireworks show, the night parade, or even run in one of the races!  For those who are athletic, there’s a 5k, 8k, 10k, 15k, half marathon and marathon.  You’ll catch me at the half marathon this year.

2.  The world’s first scheduled passenger flight flew from St. Petersburg to Tampa in 1914.

The flight lasted around 40 minutes, and only cost $5.

3.  During the prohibition, Tampa was one of the top illegal sellers of alcohol in the United States.

Future fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were not happy about the new alcohol laws, and Tampa quickly became a part of the illegal alcohol sellers during the prohibition.

4.  Tampa is home to Florida’s largest port. 

Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port, handling nearly 40 percent of all cargo moving in and out of the state of Florida. Four different cruise lines also use Port Tampa Bay as a homeport, with numerous cruises departing from Tampa’s channel side district.

5.  On average, Tampa Bay is only 12 feet deep.

After mentioning that Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port, it is quite surprising!  Tampa Bay does, however, have a channel that is more than 40 feet deep, but much of it the bay is only a couple feet deep. Shallow water doesn’t eliminate fun though.  It’s a great place to hop on a kayak, sailboat, or stand up paddle board.

6.  Tampa Bay gets a lot of lightning.

The Bay area gets hit with the most lightning in the United States, and therefore their hockey team is conveniently named the Lightning.  It’s one of the better sports teams in the area, so why not check out a game while you’re visiting?

7.  The first Florida brewery is in Tampa.

Built in 1897, the Florida Brewing Company is Florida’s first brewery.  This brewery has a large selection of local Florida beers which are a must try if you are in the area.

8. Florida’s oldest restaurant is also located in Tampa.

Have you ever heard of the Columbia Restaurant?  It’s the oldest restaurant in Florida, and the largest Spanish restaurant around.  The Columbia has been in Tampa since 1905. There are other locations in cities such as St. Augustine. In Tampa the Columbia is located in the heart of Ybor City;  it’s a restaurant you really don’t want to miss when dinning in Tampa.

9.  Ybor City was once the cigar capital of the world.

In it’s peak in the 1920s, more than half a billion cigars were hand-rolled and sold in Ybor City, known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter for more than a century. This gave it the title of “Cigar Capital of the World.”  Ybor is now a National Landmark Historic district, and you can find cigar shops off 7th street that allow you to see what Ybor once was.

10.  Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest open water estuary.

In the Tampa Bay, you can find hundreds of different animals.  You can find numbers species of birds, fish and sharks, as well as manatees and dolphins swimming around the bay.  The marine life is particularly busy in the spring.

Learn more insights into Tampa, Florida with these resources: 

100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before You Die

The Trafficantes, Godfathers from Tampa, Florida: The Mafia, the CIA and the JFK Assassination

Moving to Tampa: The Un-Tourist Guide

This post was written by Lauren Youngerman, a student at the University of South Florida studying international business with a focus on Spanish and marketing.

She is a member of her school’s sailing team, and also works as a sailing coach at a nearby club.

Lauren is an adventure seeker who has had the opportunity to live abroad in both Brazil and Nicaragua, as well as to being a part of the U.S. Army.

Currently completing a social media internship for VentureTime Travel, Lauren seeks a career in marketing after graduation. Learn more about Lauren’s work experience via her LinkedIn profile.

Check out these other Florida-related posts:

• Eating Local at the Southport Raw Bar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Visiting One of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in Jacksonville, Florida
• 10 Family-friendly Activities for the Ft. Myers, Florida Area
• 14 Fun Facts about St. Augustine, Florida
• 4 Tips for a Perfect Spring Break in Destin, Florida

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