The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.

Property Name	Westport Junior High School
Reference Number	14000162
State	Missouri
County	Jackson
Town	Kansas City
Street Address	300 East 39th Street
Multiple Property Submission Name	Historic Resources of the Kansas City, Missouri School District Pre-1970
Status	Listed 4/15/2014
Areas of Significance	ARCHITECTURE
Link to full file	https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/14000162.pdf

"Westport Junior High School (Westport Junior High) is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion C. It is locally significant in the area of ARCHITECTURE as an excellent example of the Junior High School sub-type of the Early 20th Century/Progressive Era School property type, as outlined in the Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) ""Historic Resources of the Kansas City, Missouri School District Pre-1970 ."" Designed by District architect Charles Smith and constructed in 1924, the grand and imposing five-story structure embodies both the educational pride of the community and the educational pedagogy of the District during this period. Following the registration requirements of the Junior High School property sub-type, the building is smaller than a high school building but larger than its elementary feeder schools. It embodies the significant features of the Progressive Era property type, which was shaped by reform movements during this period. At Westport Junior High these include fireproof construction, wide corridors and ample stairs to accommodate egress; large windows to allow natural light and air into the building; double-loaded corridors to organize classrooms; and many rooms dedicated to specific functions as part of a comprehensive curriculum. Art, music, the sciences and manual training rooms supported cultural and vocational education, while two gymnasiums and a natatorium assured the physical well-being of the students. Westport Junior High served the students of Kansas City for over eighty-five years. The period of significance is 1924, the date of construction."
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