Answered: Why is there an eagle statue on Ward Parkway?

Photo courtesy of KC Parks and Recreation

Earlier this year, we asked which Kansas City sites you needed a history lesson on. Several of you mentioned the eagle perched at Ward Parkway and 67th Street. Here’s what we discovered about our avian friend.

According to KC Parks and Recreation , this seemingly American symbol is actually Japanese. Dating back to the 18th century, it originally resided in a courtyard of a Japanese temple. In 1935, J.C. Nichols’ company purchased it from a New York art dealer and donated it to the city.

The bronze eagle:

• Stands 3 ft tall
• Has a 14-ft wing span
• Weighs 2,000 lbs

And that’s the word on the bird . Have any more sites around the city you want us to research? Let us know .