Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Evel Knievel Museum Opens in Topeka

Press Release submitted by Ron Kaufman, Director of Information Services, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism

TOPEKA, KS – Among the many exciting attractions that Kansas has to offer, visitors to northeast Kansas can add a new museum to their must-see list of experiences – The Evel Knievel Museum at Historic Harley Davidson in Topeka. The museum held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 26.  

The $5 million, 13,000 sq. ft. museum features Evel’s motorcycles, leathers and helmets, his fully-restored Mack truck dubbed “Big Red” and his personal and never-before-seen memorabilia. The two-story museum also features several interactive experiences including a virtual reality 4-D motorcycle jump, “Broken Bones” interactive with Evel’s actual X-rays, “Plan Your Jump” challenge, “Engine and Suspension” interactive and a “Snake River Experience Room” featuring Knievel’s actual X2 Skycycle.

The museum was made possible, in part, by an $88,000 Attraction Development Grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT). The program works to assist the development of sustainable, market-driven travel experiences in Kansas that will attract visitors and create long-lasting economic benefits from the creation of jobs, capital investment, revenue and visitation.

During its two-week soft opening, forty-six percent of the museum’s visitors were from out of state, including 13 states and four foreign countries, so the museum is quickly becoming a destination.

“We are tremendously excited to have the Evel Knievel Museum join the large number of amazing attractions in Kansas,” said Linda Craghead, KDWPT Assistant Secretary for Parks and Tourism. “We congratulate Historic Harley Davidson and all the dedicated people and organizations that helped make the museum possible, and we’re proud that the state could play a role in bringing it to Topeka.”

The Evel Knievel Museum at Historic Harley Davidson is located at 2047 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612. For information, call 785-215-6205, or visit www.EvelKnievelMuseum.org.

A grand opening celebration will be held June 30 and July 1. Tickets for the grand opening are limited and can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com.

For information about Attraction Development Grants visit TravelKs.com and click on “Travel Industry,” and then "Grants."

Monday, October 24, 2016

Did You Know...

by Kevin Surbaugh

As many of you may or may not know "oct" is Latin for eight, so why is October, the tenth month rather then eighth?
 At one time there were only ten months in the year, March through December. Making October the eighth month. However, a Greek writer/biographer named Plutarch placed January and February at the beginning of the calendar pushing the other months off by two months. Ever since, there has been twelve months and the previously numbered months no longer correlated to the meaning of their names.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Did You Know.....? Kansas School for the Deaf

Did you know that the Kansas School for the Deaf in nearby Olathe started out right here in Baldwin City? It's true and there is even a historical marker; of sorts, that marks the location. The small stone, that is easily missed as you drive by doesn't really tell the story. So we began searching for the story behind the stone.
Founded in the first year of statehood (1861) by Phillip Emery. Who according to the Kansas State School for the Deaf website, Emery himself, was a deaf man, who had attended and then was briefly a teacher at the Indiana State School for the Deaf, before coming to Kansas.  Upon arriving in the Wakarusa River Valley of Kansas, he became acquainted a neighbor, Jonathon Kennedy, who had three deaf children.
Kennedy was elated to meet someone who was a deaf educator, as their was no educational opportunities for the deaf in Kansas at the time. Kennedy persuaded Emery to begin a school for the deaf. A loan of $250 was secured from a relative of Kennedy's and the two set out to locate a suitable location.  In Baldwin City a small house, with two rooms and an attic was located at what is now the intersection of tenth and Indiana. Officially opening for business in October of 1861, even though they didn't welcome their first student until December 9, of that same year. That student was Elizabeth Studebaker, who arrived with her father along with some ham, eggs and butter to use in barter for the schools tuition of $2.50 per week.
On March 5, 1862 the Kansas legislature passed legislation appropriating $500 to the tiny school, along with 25 cents per student. In turn Emory and the school had to report to the Kansas state auditor, how many students he taught along with how many days each of them attended.
The school along with the city of Baldwin City survived Quantrill's raid after a group of men intercepted Quantrill as his forces moved towards Baldwin City from Lawrence, which they had just burned.
However, in Topeka there was a debate as to where the school should be located. Some thought it, along with every state agency should be located in Topeka. This created a three-way debate between Baldwin City, Olathe and Topeka.  In the end Governor Carney signed legislation, moving the school to Olathe on February 12, 1864.  The school moved on November 15, 1866 into a newly constructed stone building in Olathe, about twenty-five miles from it's original location here in Baldwin City.
In 1905 it became compulsory that all deaf children in the state, between six and twenty-one attend the school. Today the school is a large school for the deaf and is known for it's academic excellence.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Old Castle Museum

The oldest University in Kansas is Baker University in Baldwin City, KS. Here, in what is known as the Old Castle Museum is the oldest university building in Kansas. This building (pictured below)  housed the first classes of Baker University.Thus making it the oldest university building in Kansas. The Castle museum holds some old artifacts from the 1800 period, and was built in 1857. Methodist ministers started the college in Palmyra, which is now known as Baldwin City.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh


Hours:
Tours available by appointment
call 785-594-7800 to make an appointment

photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Inscription:
Erected this building and opened its door for instruction November 22, 1858

Werner Renick Davis, President

The trustees realizing their financial inability to construct a building to meet their dreams of the future requirements of the college, erected this building here as a temporary educational center rather than on the campus which had been already designated.


Erected by:
1908 by Class of 1891 on its Fiftieth Anniversary.


photographer Kevin Surbaugh
The Kibbee Cabin is a replica of a log cabin which stood on the crest of the Santa Fe Ridge north of Baldwin City where a group of Methodist ministers met to form Baker University in 1857. It was also the site of the first sermon preached by the church to white settlers in Kansas. Lucius Kibbee, who originally owned the cabin, was acquitted in Kansas' first manslaughter trial for killing a proslavery neighbor who attacked him because of Kibbee's stand against slavery. The floor and some of the furnishings are from the original cabin.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh
The Palmyra Post Office was used in 1857-62. This building is a replica of the original.


Location:
513 5th Street
Baldwin City KS 66006


Handicapped Accessibility:
There are small step's to all three buildings, meaning known of them are accessible to those facing mobility issues. The original university building is multiple stories which are only accessible via stairs. No elevators available. 



Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Palmyra

The Palmyra well is within present-day Baldwin City, KS, about one block east of  Baldwin City High School. The community of Palmyra was settled along the Santa Fe Trail during the 1850s, and the well provided water for trail travelers and their livestock as well as the residents. Palmyra has long since been absorbed into Baldwin City, but its presence on the Santa Fe Trail has been commemorated with various markers nearby, and the well is identified today as the Palmyra well.

Palmyra Well Historical Marker
Photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Inscription:
This well was hand dug when the town of Palmyra was established in 1857, it served travelers on the Santa Fe Trail, as well as townspeople.
The well is 25 ft in diameter and 56 ft deep and about 17 ft to water.

Palmyra Well
Photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Location:
about one (1) block east of the Baldwin City High School
near Washington Street and Palmyra Lane




Palmyra
Photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Sign Inscription:
Palmyra
First important repair stop on the Santa Fe Trail
Blacksmith~~General Store~~Hotel
Well~~Saw Mill~~Post Office
Lawyer
Settled 1856             Surveyed 1857
The Palmyra Association Donated the Land for Baker University and City of Baldwin

Erected by:
the Santa Fe Historical Society of Douglas County

Rock Inscription
:
Santa Fe Trail
1822-1872
Marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution
and the
State of Kansas
1906

Location:
Outside the Baldwin City High School
415 Eisenhower St.






Inscription:
This Angling Road is the Original Santa Fe Trail. Park Area Donated by I. and J. Stickle to Baker University in 1907.

D.A.R. Monument Commemorates the Dispersal of Free-State and Pro-Slavery Forces after the Battle of Black Jack.

Original Bronze Plaque Stolen in 1967. Replaced in Marble by S.F.T. Hist. Soc.


Erected:
1983 by two Baker Alumnae, Class of 1932.


Location:
at the intersection of North 6th Street and North 400 Road
(approximately 3/4 of a mile north of US Hwy 56)

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Eldridge Hotel


We have posted about the Eldridge Hotel before. That post was our story about Haunted Lawrence. Today we are more focused on the historical aspect of the building. Although much of the history is woven into the reason it is said to be haunted.


According to the Eldridge's own website,
The Eldridge Hotel has been an integral part of the history of Lawrence since its founding. The original building on this site was the Free State Hotel, built in 1855 by settlers from the New England Emigrant Aid Society. The Free State Hotel was intended to be temporary quarters for those settlers who came here from Boston and other areas while their homes were being built. It was named the Free State Hotel to make clear the intent of those early settlers: that Kansas should enter the union as a free state.
However, in 1856, the Eldridge was burned by a band of pro-slavery forces led by Sheriff Sam Jones. Being rebuilt it remained until 1863 when it was attacked during Quantrill's raid on Lawrence.
Colonel Eldridge promptly rebuilt the hotel and gave it his name, the Hotel Eldridge. To this day, the seal of the city of Lawrence depicts a phoenix rising from the ashes. Its motto is “from ashes to immortality”. The seal and motto exhibit the determination by the people of Lawrence to stand and fight for the rights and dignity of people everywhere.


Inscription:
This marks the site of the Free State Hotel erected in 1855 by the New England Emigrant Aid Society. Destroyed by Sheriff Jones and his posse May 21, 1856, and rebuilt by Col. Schaler W. Eldridge. Quantrill and his raiders destroyed Lawrence August 21, 1863, burned the hotel and massacred the citizens. Col. Eldridge restored the hotel which stood until 1926 when it was rebuilt by W.G. Hutson.

Erected:
1940 by Lawrence Rotary Club.

Location:
701 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence KS 66044
Intersection of 7th and Massachusetts

Handicapped Accessibility:
We found only one handicapped entrance, right next to this historical marker. Inside the  hotel there are elevators to get to upper floors.  We however, on this visit only visited the Jayhawker Restaurant,just inside these doors. 

Monday, January 4, 2016

Ghost Town - Henson


Henson reportedly was formerly called Pendleton in the late 1800s and part of 1900. However, I have not found any confirmation of this.
There were a few houses there and a Fina™ gas station. most of the inhabitants moved to more populated towns. the town was possibly involved with the Burlington Railroad, which currently still runs through there. if you drive through Henson you will still see remains of the old Fina gas station, which was converted into a house.
photographer Kevin Surbaugh

The old building still stands, but is dilapidated in disrepair. This building and an a new house on the other side of the railroad tracks is all that remains of what was once Henson. Everything else is farmland. If you have any other information about this area and/or the gas station/grocery store that used to be here, please let us know.





Thursday, December 31, 2015

Another Small Town Paper Bites the Dust

The Baldwin City Signal announced that today's (Dec 31, 2015) paper would be the last issue of the paper.  According to the article, coverage for the area would be done by the Lawrence Journal World.
The World Company is ceasing publication of The Baldwin City Signal and shifting coverage of Baldwin City news and sports to the Lawrence Journal-World.
- Baldwin City Signal
It further said that,
Elvyn Jones, news editor of The Signal, will become a member of the Journal-World’s reporting staff. Jones will become the new county and area reporter, which will include coverage of Baldwin City council, school board, Baker University and other Baldwin-related news, said Chad Lawhorn, the Journal World’s managing editor.
- Baldwin City Signal
However, nothing was mentioned about the one reporter that was seen by some in the area. Even though the article mentioned that the Journal-World would continue to cover the Baldwin City signal, no one had been seen at the the city council meetings that we attended from the now defunct Signal.
“Being a seven-day per week newspaper, we’re going to be able to provide news and information to the Baldwin City community in a more timely fashion than we could with the weekly newspaper,” Lawhorn said. “I’m very proud of the work Elvyn and the staff of The Signal have done over the years. We’re excited about including that coverage in the Journal-World.”
- Baldwin City Signal
According to the same article, the World company is closing the Chieftain, which had served the Bonner Springs and Basehor communities. At the same time they plan to expand the Shawnee Dispatch from a weekly paper to two days a week.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Black Jack Historical Site

Just three miles east of Baldwin City is the site of the Battle of Black Jack.  One of many pre-Civil War skirmishes that took place throughout eastern Kansas.


photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Inscription:
This "battle" was part of the struggle to make Kansas a free state. In May, 1856, Proslavery men destroyed buildings and newspaper presses in Lawrence, Free-State headquarters. John Brown's company then killed five Proslavery men on Pottawatomie Creek not far from this spot. In retaliation Henry C. Pate raided near-by Palmyra and took three prisoners. Early on the morning of June 2, Brown attacked Pate's camp in a grove of black jack oaks about 1/4 mile south of this sign. Both sides had several wounded and numerous desertions before Pate and 28 men surrendered, Brown claiming he had only 15 men left. As evidence of civil war, this fight received much publicity and excited both the North and the South. 

Erected by:
Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission

Location:
In Black Jack Park
Marker is on U.S. 56 0.1 miles east of East 2000 Road.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh
photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Inscription:
South of this park are 18 acres of virgin prairie. Purchased 1967 by Douglas County from Russell Hays for a permanent prairie preserve and historic site. Evidence of Santa Fe Trail plainly visible. Original site of D.A.R, marker was near pioneer town of Black Jack ½ mile east.

(D.A.R. marker) Inscription:
Santa Fe Trail
1822 - 1872
marked by the
Daughters of the
American Revolution
and the
State of Kansas
1906

Erected:
1984

photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Inscription:
This replica of a 19th century log cabin was constructed in the fall of 1969 and dedicated in January of 1971. The cabin was constructed for the benefit of the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society for meetings and to display historical artifacts. Construction was funded by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. The logs were provided by Wilson Counts and sawed by Will Hey Sr.; the project was directed by Harvey Booth and Dayton Van Tries.

Erected by:
Santa Fe Historical Society

Location:
In Black Jack Park
Marker is on U.S. 56 0.1 miles east of East 2000 Road.







(main) Inscription:
First Battle between Free and Slave States fought on these grounds June 2, 1856

(secondary) Inscription:
Erected 1913 by Post 40 Grand Army of the Republic Women's Relief Corps #102

Deeded to Kansas 1917


Location:
In Robert Hall Pearson Memorial Park. 
Marker is at the intersection of East 2000th Road and North 175th Road, on the right when traveling south on East 2000th Road. 

photographer Kevin Surbaugh


Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Tennessee Town Mural

On the south-facing wall of a building owned by WCW Property Management at Huntoon and Lane is one of the newest murals in Topeka.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh
The building depicted on the left in the mural is the artists representation of what had been part of the shopping center on the same lot.  Though the building containing the mural is all that remains of the old shopping center, the artist wished to give an idea had been there.
The building depicted in the center is Buchanan Elementary and is now the Buchanan Center.
Then the building on the right side of the mural depicts the school at the center of  Brown v Board.
Finally, the roads kind of gives a nod to the emerald city and is somewhat  of a metaphor to future growth.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh



Artist:
Jaime Colon


More Information:
Topeka ArtsConnect



Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Baldwin

When you drive down Highway 56 through Baldwin City, there is a historical marker just east of the city limits.
Inscription:
Here, and for the next 300 miles west, Highway 56 roughly follows the old Santa Fe trail, and frequently crosses it. White settlement began in this area in 1854, the year Kansas became a territory, and in 1855 the town of Palmyra was founded. When Baker University was established on the outskirts in 1858 a new town sprang up. It was named for John Baldwin, an Ohio capitalist who in 1857 hauled a steam sawmill in over the trail. By 1863 Palmyra had merged with Baldwin.

Local settlers were "Free~State" in the fight over slavery; several were captured in a Proslavery raid of 1856. Among Free~State leaders was Dr. Andrew T. Still, founder of osteopathy, whose theory of healing was developed here.

Baker University, named for Methodist Bishop Osmon Baker, is the state's oldest four-year college. It houses the famous Bishop Quayle Bible collection and its first building, the "Old Castle", is now a museum.

Erected by:
Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 8.)

Location:
US-56, Douglas County
Roadside turnout about a half (.5 miles) east of  Baldwin City
38.77407,-95.16395

Handicapped Accessibility:
Technically, there is no place to get out of your car. There is a place to exit the highway, to view the sign and then get back on to the highway.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Onion Domes in NE Kansas

What are onion domes?
First they are not a new kind of onion rings. In fact they are not food at all. According to Wikipedia,
An onion dome is a dome whose shape resembles an onion. Such domes are often larger in diameter than the drum upon which they sit, and their height usually exceeds their width. These bulbous structures taper smoothly to a point.

It is the predominant form for church domes in Russia (mostly on Russian Orthodox churches) and in Bavaria, Germany (German: Zwiebelturm (= "onion tower"), plural: Zwiebeltürme, mostly on Catholic churches), but can also be found regularly across Austria, northeastern Italy, Eastern Europe, Mughal India, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Other types of Eastern Orthodox cupolas include helmet domes (for example, those of the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod and of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir), Ukrainian pear domes (Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev), and Baroque bud domes (St. Andrew's Church in Kiev).
photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Here in Topeka and northeast Kansas there are a number of onion domes. Most notably is the Charles Curtis House (museum), the house that served as the home to the Topekan, who would one day become Vice President of the United States.   The onion domes additions to the Charles Curtis House were added in 1888 by architect Seymour Davis (1869 - 1923).

In addition, there are two that have long been removed from their original buildings and now sit in a yard in central Topeka.  The history of which, I have long wondered about.  They, in fact what got me to thinking about doing this article.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Other onion domes that we have learned of exist in Kansas City, KS. A former Russian Orthodox Church that is now home to the Thieves Of Flight Dance Studios, features these architectural designs.

 Location:
The domes pictured can be seen as you drive in the area of 13th and Buchanan in Topeka, KS

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Quayle Rare Bible Collection

The collection of rare Bibles at Baker University started when Bishop William Alfred Quayle, left his collection of 250 volumes, to Baker University, at the time of his death in 1925. The collection contains rare Bibles as well as other items such as handwritten scrolls, and bible translations that range in age from 2000 BC to the present. Not to mention, Bibles signed by every president since Harry S. Truman. The collection now includes 900 pieces.
However, not every piece in the collection is displayed at any one time.  Each year, the curator carefully selects the pieces that will be displayed with that years theme (Sept 5, 2015-July 31, 2016 is King David: Poet, Warrior, Seducer & Murderer).
photographer Kevin Surbaugh

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

In the lobby, just before entering the collection are a few of the Bibles that were sent to each President since Harry Truman. 
Bibles signed by President Obama (center), Ronald Reagan (top left),
John Kennedy (top right) and Dwight Eisenhower) bottom right)
photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Bible signed by President Obama. Photographer Kevin Surbaugh
In addition is a room from the Urishay Castle, in England near the border with Wales.  The original castle that this room was once part of, was inhabited by the Delehay Family in the late 19th century.
photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Hours:         Saturday & Sunday 
                    1-4PM
                    or by appointment
                    CLOSED: All Holidays; July 4 & 5; August 1 - 31

Admission:  Free

Website:       http://www.bakeru.edu/quayle  

Phone:         (785) 594-8414

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Location:    Collins Library at Baker University
                    518 Eighth Street
                    Baldwin City, Kansas 66006

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Handicapped Accessibility: The building is accessible, however it is street parking, which may make it harder to get to the sidewalk and/or curb cut. 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Haunted Lawrence

I'm not a believer in ghosts, but as Halloween approached I thought it would be of interest to readers to see some of the areas ghost stories and haunted attractions. That said, lets take a look at the reportedly "haunted places," in Lawrence.

The Eldridge Hotel
According to the website, Haunted Places to Go, the Eldridge is one of the most popular haunted places in the state of Kansas.  Located at 706 Massachusetts in downtown Lawrence, the hotel is reportedly haunted, but not for the current building there. Rather, it is the previous "Free State Hotel," that was attacked on May 21, 1856 by cannon that started a fire in the hotel. It was rebuilt, only to again be set on fire during William Quantrill's raid on Lawrence on August 21, 1863.
In the year of 1865, the hotel – which had been destroyed not once, but twice – was officially rebuilt and opened to the public. This time, it was blessed with a new name – the Eldridge Hotel. It was constructed using what remained from the previous hotel – a simple cornerstone. As time progressed, this hotel was considered to be the finest hotel that stood west of the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, by the time that the year 1925 arrived, the structure was in disarray and needed to be reconstructed. It had played such an intense role in the history of the city that many felt it was only appropriate to bring it back to its original splendor. However, the years took its toll on the building once more by the era of the 60s. As a result, its doors were closed on the 1st day of July in the year of 1970.

The hotel stood, barren and in disarray, for a decade and a half. In the year of 1985, many locals of the region decided that it would be appropriate to fix up the hotel and make use of it. It was at this time that renovations on the building started. Investors, along with a two million dollar donation from the City of Lawrence, started rebuilding the structure. The top four individual floors of the building were completely stripped and renovated and created an amazing forty eight suites that consisted of two rooms each. Additionally, the lobby of the building was also renovated and created in such a manner that it displayed the original elegance that it displayed in its earliest days.

As with any building with a previous life, the renovations seemed to spark ghostly tales. When these renovations started, rumor quickly got around that the hotel was one of the most haunted places in Kansas. Many that worked on the building and several that worked for the hotel have shared numerous ghost stories – especially about the fifth floor. It is believed that the heightened emotions and tragic turmoil of the structure has created a spiritual based portal in the fifth floor. The specific room associated with this portal is identified as the number “506. In and around this room, strange experiences such as doors opening and closing on their own, electrical complications, and cold spots have been encountered.
- Haunted Places to Go

The Eldridge Hotel
photographer Kevin Surbaugh
Reportedly the cornerstone, mentioned above is in that room and that is why Room 506 is the portal to the spirit world.

Haskel Indian Nations University
According to those who believe,there are a number of locations at Haskell Indian Nations University, an 1800s institution built to help Native Americans assimilate with the mainstream population, that are rumored to be haunted. At the Bell Tower, students have reported a mysterious sealed-off wall in the basement and a feeling of being watched from above as they pass by. At Hiawatha Hall, the oldest building on the campus, a ghost supposedly opens and closes doors, even those propped open with a doorstop. At Haskell Auditorium, a ghost reportedly sits in the auditorium seats during shows, and a little girl has been heard crying backstage. In Pocahontas Hall’s basement, the ghost of a girl who once hanged herself here may appear hanging from the ceiling. And just south of Taminend Hall, ghostly crying has been heard at a small cemetery containing the remains of approximately 70 children who died during a smallpox epidemic.

Sigma Nu Fraternity - Kansas University
According to Lawrence.com, the house that now houses the Fraternity, used to be the home of former Governor Walter Stubbs (who served 1909-1913) and his wife. Reportedly, after spending time in Topeka, Governor Stubbs came home (on April 22, 1911) to find the maid, "Virginia," hung in the third floor ball room.  He later found his wife rocking back and forth, traumatized by the death.  Reportedly, she hung herself, and her ghost has been seen throughout the house since.  Although, there is some question if she really did kill herself or if she was murdered.
According to the legend, Stubbs' wife suspected her husband of having an affair with Virginia, so she killed the girl and trussed her up in the closet to make it look like suicide.

The governor's wife was later committed to an asylum, according to one account of the tale.

The story doesn't end there.

As an added twist, the legend states that the governor had Virginia's cremated remains buried behind the large stone fireplace.

Adding to the mystery is an engraved plate on the fireplace with a cryptic message that says in Gothic typeface, "The World of Strife Shut Out, the World of Love Shut In.".
- Lawrence.com

So there you have it.  Reported ghosts in Lawrence, and not to far away (about 11 miles) in nearby Stull, is the "Gateway to Hell," as we told you about last Halloween Season.










Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Coon Point

Located next to the Lecompton, Capital of Kansas marker marking a Oregon Trail campground.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh
Inscription:
Oregon Trail
1842
COON POINT
A camping ground
Lecompton
Territorial Capital of Kansas
1855-1861
Three Miles North

Erected
:
in 1930
by The Fifty-Sixers
and
Old Settlers of Douglas County
and the
Betty Washington Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution

Location:
the rest area at the intersection of U.S. 40 and E 600 Road

Handicapped Accessibility:
The parking in front of the marker is paved and it can be viewed (though this one may be hard to actually read) from the car, so it is fairly accessible.

Friday, April 3, 2015

Holley Museum of Military History

See a 4,000-piece military collection of dioramas, models and artifacts from the Civil War through the Persian Gulf War.

Hours: Sun-Sat 10 AM-8 PM

Admission: 

Website: http://www.topekaramada.com/hmmh/

Location:        inside the Ramada
                       420 SE 6th Avenue  
                       Topeka, KS 66603   

Phone:            785-272-6204