History Vendor is a participatory art installation by artist Chris Dahlquist located in City Market Park in Kansas City, Missouri .
This project is a collection of vintage vending machines used to freely dispense historic photographs and stories of the historically rich area surrounding the park.
By using a vending machine to deliver the photographs and maps, it encourages an element of play and youthful adventure as participants hunt for the vantage point of the original image.
As a resident of the nearby historic Columbus Park neighborhood, Chris knows first hand that a long history helps give a neighborhood identity, but it’s the creativity of its residents and visitors that, if engaged, can bring it life.
History Vendor is commissioned by the Kansas City Municipal Art Commission for Art in the Park. The historic photographs are used courtesy of the Missouri Valley Special Collections of the Kansas City Public Library.