Giralda Tower, Kansas City

The Giralda Tower in Kansas City is a striking landmark that graces the Country Club Plaza. Standing at 138 feet tall on the corner of West 47th Street and Mill Creek Parkway, this half-scale replica of Seville, Spain's famous 12th-century Moorish tower, embodies a piece of architectural history transplanted to the heart of Missouri. The vision for this tower began in the 1920s when urban developer J.C. Nichols visited Seville and was captivated by the original Giralda, a minaret that later became a Christian belfry in the 16th century. Although Nichols initially planned to build a similar structure in the Plaza, the idea only came to fruition decades later under his son, Miller Nichols, who seized the opportunity when a local landscaping company vacated the corner lot.

Completed in 1967, the Giralda Tower was officially dedicated on October 12 of that year, with dignitaries from both Kansas City and Seville in attendance, including Seville's mayor, Felix Morena de la Cova. The dedication not only celebrated the tower but also marked the beginning of a Sister Cities relationship between Kansas City and Seville, part of an international program initiated by President Eisenhower to foster global peace and friendship.

Though not open to the public, the Giralda Tower is easily admired from street level, standing proudly adjacent to retail spaces and a parking garage. It serves as a testament to the cultural connection between the two cities and remains one of the most iconic features of the Country Club Plaza, reflecting both historical homage and urban development.