A brief history of Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill is a historic Croatian American neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas, overlooking the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. It was here that Marijana was born and raised, shaped by a close-knit community built by Croatian immigrants who came to work in the packing houses across the river. In this neighborhood, immigrants and first-generation Americans labored, worshiped, and built lives as they pursued the American dream.
In the mid-1940s, when Marijana was growing up, life in Strawberry Hill revolved around family, faith, and hard work. Neighbors knew one another by name, children filled the streets after school, and daily life unfolded in small homes, corner stores, and at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where fraternal organizations anchored social and cultural life. Many residents worked long hours in the packing houses, returning in the evenings to shared meals and porch conversations. Their deep sense of Croatian traditions and identity created a strong, enduring Croatian community.
In 1957, much of Strawberry Hill was destroyed to make way for I-70. Entire blocks of homes and businesses were lost. As a result, not all of the neighborhood Marijana knew still exists today. Marijana’s paintings serve as a powerful visual record of that vanished landscape. Through her work, she preserved the people, streets, homes, and daily life of Strawberry Hill as she experienced it—capturing a community and way of life that only partially exists today.
Yet Strawberry Hill is not only a story of loss—it is also a story of resilience. Today, the neighborhood remains a vibrant and thriving Croatian American enclave. Traditions continue through festivals, church life, and spirited World Cup watch parties that bring generations together. Against the odds, Strawberry Hill has endured, carrying its history forward while remaining a living, evolving community.
We invite you to explore Strawberry Hill for yourself—attend Mass at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, visit the Strawberry Hill Museum, and walk the very streets Marijana grew up on and so lovingly brought to life on canvas.
