The coming of the railroads, Union Station, and the building of stockyards led to the rapid expansion of Kansas City in the late 1800s. During the 1920s and 30s, the city became a noted center for Jazz and Blues music, as well as the headquarters of Hallmark Cards and the location of Walt Disney's first animation studio. The county fared better than many during the Great Depression, as local political boss Thomas Pendergast worked for implementation of a $50,000,000 public works project that provided thousands of jobs (and a great deal of money for the corrupt Pendergast). One of Pendergast's political proteges was a young World War I veteran from Independence: Harry S. Truman. Recent building projects have sought to expand Kansas City's growth, including work on the city's famous City Market, the Plaza, the Westport district, the 18th and Vine Historic District and most recently the Kansas City Power & Light District.