Union Cemetery, established in 1857, is the oldest cemetery in Kansas City and one of the more interesting in the Midwest for its historic significance. The most famous resident is no longer here — Jesse James was briefly buried at Union before being moved to Missouri — but the cemetery holds the graves of many of the city's founding figures, Civil War veterans from both sides, and former mayors and civic leaders going back to the 1860s.
The grounds themselves are worth exploring: large mature trees, a mix of Victorian funerary monuments from the late 19th century, and a quiet atmosphere in the middle of a dense urban neighborhood. The cemetery is maintained and open to visitors during daylight hours. Historical walking tour maps are available from the Union Cemetery Historical Society.