Greenlease Cadillac Building


  • Address: 2900 Gillham Rd
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

The Greenlease Cadillac Building retains a high degree of integrity with no significant alterations. All of the character-defining elements of its design, materials, and workmanship remain intact, both on the interior and the exterior. The first-story showroom, in particular, retains all of its distinctive architectural elements, including the Cadillac heraldry at the top of the columns. Cadillac corporate imagery is intact at the building's terracotta cornice as well. The only missing element is the canopy that was originally above the main entrance on the south end of the building. The Greenlease Cadillac Building's form, configuration of spaces, and surrounding environment clearly convey its original function as an early automobile dealership and distributorship.

In addition, the Greenlease Cadillac Building is notable as the headquarters of the Robert C Greenlease auto empire. Founded in 1908, the Greenlease Motor Car Company was both a Cadillac dealer and distributor. Robert Greenlease leveraged the opportunities provided by his role as Cadillac distributor to expand his business. By 1929 his territory stretched across five states and he controlled five of the seventeen Cadillac distributorships nationwide. 1 In 1967, General Motors celebrated the Greenlease Motor Car Company as the most senior of their 14,000 dealerships operating in the United States. The Greenlease Cadillac Building represents not only the expansion of the Greenlease auto empire, but the broader the development of the auto industry in Kansas City, Missouri. - NRHP, 28 April 2003

Advertisement

Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1918/00/00 Mosby-Goodrich Construction Co. Contractor Greenlease Cadillac Building built in 1918
1918/00/00 Robert Greenlease Owner Greenlease Cadillac Building built in 1918
1918/00/00 Cadillac Manufactuer Greenlease Cadillac Building built in 1918
1918/00/00 Lewis W Haverkamp Architect Greenlease Cadillac Building built in 1918
1950/00/00 One-story, concrete block addition constructed on the north end

Data »

Particulars for Greenlease Cadillac Building:
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Sight Category Building
Area of Significance Commerce
Architectural Style Early commercial
Criteria Historic Event
Owner Private
Historic Use Specialty Store
Building Type Warehouse



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 13th June 2003

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Greenlease Cadillac Building
Registry Address: 2900 Gillham Rd.
Registry Number: 03000523
Resource Type: Building
Owner: Private
Architect: Haverkamp, Lewis W.; Mosby-Goodrich Construction Co.
Architectural Style: Early commercial
Contributing Buildings: 1
Other Certification: Date received-pending nomination
Certification: Listed in the National Register
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: Local
Area of Significance: Commerce, Architecture
Applicable Criteria: Event, Architecture-Engineering
Significant Year: 1918, 1950
Historic Function: Commerce, Trade
Historic Sub-Function: Specialty store, Warehouse
Current Function: Commerce, Trade
Current Sub-Function: Warehouse

Shopping on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Google Ad

Google Ad
?