Entry No. 33 — the Kansas City file — filed under: outdoor
The Hereford Bull
Overlooking Interstate 35 from a high bluff in Mulkey Square Park, this 5,500-pound, 19-foot-long fiberglass Hereford bull replica is a beloved mid-century landmark. Known to locals as 'Bob' (Bull on Building), the statue was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 before being saved from storage and relocated here.
The story
In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in Kansas City to dedicate a 5,500-pound, 19-foot-long fiberglass Hereford bull. Commissioned by the American Hereford Association, architect Joseph Radotinsky didn't just place the white-faced behemoth on a curb—he hoisted it atop a 90-foot pylon outside their downtown headquarters, anchoring the skyline with a symbol of the region's cattle empire.
Locals took to calling him 'Bob' (short for Bull on Building), and for more than two decades, he hovered high over downtown traffic. But when the cattle association eventually moved, Bob was unceremoniously yanked off his pylon and hauled into storage, seemingly destined for a forgotten municipal warehouse.
City preservationists stepped in to rescue the bull, relocating him to a bluff in Mulkey Square Park in the Westside neighborhood. Today, Bob perches on a lower pedestal overlooking Interstate 35 and the industrial sprawl of the West Bottoms. Stripped of his high-rise tower, the giant fiberglass bovine now stands quiet watch next to a neighborhood playground and a baseball diamond.
What it's like
Walk up via the Riverfront Heritage Trail around sunset to catch the light hitting Bob's broad white face while traffic hums along I-35 beneath the bluff. The park itself is low-key—mostly grass, a playground, and local baseball fields—which makes standing next to a 5,500-pound fiberglass beast feel delightfully absurd. There are no ticket booths or gates; you simply walk up, take in the panoramic views of the West Bottoms below, and snap your photo with Kansas City's strangest surviving mid-century mascot.
The move: Walk the Riverfront Heritage Trail to the park's bluff at sunset to snap a photo with the massive, white-faced fiberglass beast while enjoying panoramic views of the West Bottoms.
- 📍 Westside
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 810 W 13th St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- World's Largest Cap Gun — Pair one mid-century roadside oddity with another by dropping down into the West Bottoms to see this giant retro toy gun mounted to a warehouse façade.
- The Ship — Look down at the West Bottoms from Bob's bluff, then descend the hill into those exact industrial flats for drinks inside a hidden maritime bar.
- P.S. Speakeasy — Head east into Downtown after taking in the open-air bluff views to slip into a subterranean cocktail lounge hidden in a 1930s mail-sorting room.
Good to know
Why did President Eisenhower dedicate a fiberglass bull?
Eisenhower dedicated the statue in 1953 to honor Kansas City's role as the headquarters of the American Hereford Association and its heritage in the American cattle industry.
Why do locals call the statue 'Bob'?
The nickname 'Bob' stands for 'Bull on Building,' coined when the statue stood perched atop a 90-foot pylon on the association's downtown headquarters.
Where is the Hereford Bull located?
The bull sits on the edge of Mulkey Square Park at 810 W 13th St on the Westside bluff, directly overlooking Interstate 35.
Does it cost anything to visit the statue?
No, the statue is situated inside a public city park and is completely free to view.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: kcparks.org · kansascitymag.com · kclibrary.org · kansascity.com
last checked: 2026-07-21