By Jayson Henderson

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City is gearing up for a major transformation with the help of a $2 million grant from the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. Announced on August 1, 2024, the grant will support a $30 million campaign to build a new 30,000-square-foot facility, enhancing the museum’s ability to preserve and tell the stories of the Negro Leagues.

NLBM president Bob Kendrick highlighted the museum’s humble beginnings in a one-room office in 1990 and expressed pride in its growth. The new facility will be adjacent to the historic Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center and will serve as a gateway to Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz District. The project is a significant step in preserving an important chapter of baseball and American history.