Sidewalk Civics

This tour was curated by: Humanities Kansas

Entries on This Tour

The Russell Kansas WPA (Works Progress Administration) office mural is a stunning piece of art that was created during the Great Depression as part of the New Deal program. It is a large mural which measures 22 feet in length by 4 feet in height and was painted by Stanley M. Hunter in 1941. The mural is located at the post office in Russell, Kansas, United States.

2. Barnard Library

In 1906, one man sought to bring quality education to the women of the Kansas prairie. Howard Barnard, known as the pioneer educator, would eventually open the Enter Nous College eighteen miles outside of La Crosse. The modern college was one of the first to offer free transportation, visual education, and the first “bloomer girls” basketball team, and boasted a large library collection—many of the books which were from Barnard’s own collection. When the Entre Nous School was forced to close its doors due to lack of funding in 1913, Barnard continued to teach in public schools in Rush County and eventually became the librarian at the LaCrosse High School. The Barnard Library is named in his honor and displays items pertaining to his devoted life to teaching and service.

3. Cimarron National Grassland

Cimarron National Grassland consists of 108,175 acres of Great Plains and is the largest area of public land in the state of Kansas covering portions of Morton and Stevens counties. Established after the Dust Bowl to prevent further soil erosion, the Cimarron National Grassland is dominated by three ecosystems, distinguished primarily by vegetation, soil type, and groundwater availability. Each ecosystem—shortgrass prairie, sandsage prairie, and wooded riparian—requires a different management strategy to ensure healthy ecosystems. The establishment of the Cimarron National Grassland on public land, like other national parks across the United States, is for the enjoyment and benefit of all people.

4. Replica of the Statue of Liberty

Dedicated by the Boy Scouts of America in 1950, this Replica of the Statue of Liberty is located at the entrance to Liberal Memorial Library. The replica statue commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Boy Scouts and represents the motto, "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty." The statue is an 8 1/2 foot version of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, which welcomes visitors, immigrants, and Americans who are returning to the United States.

5. Scott County Courthouse

Stop #17 on the Scott City Historic Walking Tour: The Town Company of Scott City was organized and incorporated on September 11, 1885. At that time Mrs. DeGeer, Mr. McLain, Mr. Swan & Mr. Sangster formed a town company. They each donated a block for 4 separate parks; one of which was Courthouse Square where the Courthouse now stands.

6. Rattlebone Hollow

What remains of Rattlebone Hollow lies mostly buried beneath John Garland Park, a Superfund site where a landfill leaked toxic material into a once-vibrant Black neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. The history of Rattlebone Hollow is gradually being recovered as an indispensable part of African American history in Kansas.

7. Statue of Abolitionist John Brown (1911)

John Brown was a central figure in the abolitionist movement of the pre-Civil War era, and this statue of him was erected at this site in 1911 thanks to the donations of hundreds of Kansas City residents, most of whom were members of the Black Community. Brown was chosen by leaders of the AME church and Western University who sought to honor his fight against the institution of slavery. Located on the former campus of Western University, the only historically-Black university in Kansas, the John Brown statue is a monument to Brown's efforts to end slavery by any means necessary. Brown believed that the rhetoric and peaceful tactics traditionally used by abolitionists were too weak, and he led armed resistance to protect the Free State communities of Kansas Territory and elsewhere. Brown led several campaigns during the “Bleeding Kansas” border wars between abolitionists and slavery sympathizers. In 1859, he was hanged for his raid in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, which sought to create a place of refuge and safety for maroon communities who could escape slavery while remaining in the American South instead of joining other communities of free people in Canada.

8. The Bottoms

The Bottoms, located in Topeka along the Kansas River, was once a tight-knit community of immigrants, African Americans, and Latinx residents, with businesses that welcomed African American customers during segregation. Urban renewal projects led to the demolition of the Bottoms in the 1950s, but former residents still fondly recall the community’s diversity and strong bonds.

9. The Memorial to the Six Million; Kansas City Jewish Community Center

This monument was dedicated in 1963, making it one of the first memorials in the United States to recognize the history of the Holocaust. At the end of World War II, Holocaust survivors moved around the world to rebuild their lives. Given the large Jewish community in Kansas City and global family networks, some survivors moved to the Kansas City metropolitan area. With the support of the Jewish community and others throughout Kansas City, local Holocaust survivors led the effort to raise funds to create this memorial to the six million Jews who were victims of the Holocaust. Fundraising began in the late 1950s and President Harry Truman spoke at the memorial's dedication ceremony on June 9, 1963. The monument was one of the first of its kind in the United States and originally stood on Holmes Road until the decision was made in 1988 to move to its present location on the grounds of the Jewish Community Center.

10. Western University (1865-1943)

Known as the first historically black college established west of the Mississippi River, Western University was established in 1881 and was open for 72 years until it was forced to close in 1943 after being negatively impacted by the Great Depression. The school followed the Booker T. Washington education model and focused on teaching not just academic skills, but also vocational trades. Prior to the university’s establishment, the original building was used for the Freedman’s School, which prioritized teaching previously enslaved residents of Quindaro from 1865 to 1877. Through the efforts of the Allen Chapel AME Church, the school was turned into a university and expanded into multiple buildings. Western developed a nationally recognized music school whose graduates went on to acquire fame and create advancements in music composition. After its closure, its surviving buildings were used by the nearby Fredrick Douglass Hospital until it was also shut down and the buildings demolished.

11. El Cuartelejo at Lake Scott State Park

Although many visitors come to Lake Scott State Park for outdoor recreation, it is also home to a notable historical site: the only known pueblo in Kansas, known as El Cuartelejo. This site is a crucial part of the history of Native Americans in Kansas and highlights the effects of Spanish colonialism.

12. "They Also Ran" Gallery - First State Bank of Norton

Have you ever wondered what happens to those who run for president of the United States but aren't elected? A gallery in the First State Bank of Norton, KS, is devoted to the stories of presidential candidates who were ultimately defeated.Former president and owner of the First State Bank, William Walter Rouse, was inspired to start the gallery after receiving a book as a gift entitled They Also Ran: The Story of the Men Who Were Defeated for the Presidency written by Irving Stone. In the book Stone explores several candidates' unsuccessful runs for President of the United States from 1824 through 1940, and tries to assess whether American voters elected the "right" candidate.Rouse enjoyed the book and started collecting portraits of the defeated candidates from the Library of Congress. When the bank moved locations in 1965, Rouse turned the spacious mezzanine into a gallery space displaying his portrait collection along with information about each candidate.Since Rouse's passing in 1981, the bank and his family have carried on the tradition of adding individuals from major and minor parties to the shrine of those that were almost elected.

13. S. P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden

Considered one of the best roadside attractions in the United States, S. P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden is a bizarre collection of disturbing yet captivating statues, Biblical and political iconography, and even a mausoleum containing the (mostly) preserved body of Dinsmoor himself.

14. Lincoln Day in Lincoln Kansas

Each year Lincoln, KS, honors its namesake President Abraham Lincoln. The annual event, which has grown over the years, celebrates all things Lincoln and explores Civil War history. Celebrated close to President Lincoln's birthday, visitors can attend lectures, view exhibits, take part in community meals, and watch historic reenactments. Most notably, Lincoln Day includes a Lincoln look-alike contest where participants from all over dress to portray the Great Emancipator.

15. McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation

The first half of the 20th century brought profound challenges to the United States, and McPherson, Kansas, was no exception. The Great Depression of 1929 to 1939 took its toll on residents, and World War II followed quickly on the depression’s heels. But amid political, economic, and social turmoil, McPherson struck gold–or, rather, oil–with its amateur basketball team, the Globe Refiners. Visitors to the McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation can view exhibits dedicated to telling this story, which holds a cherished place in the community.McPherson Museum and Arts Foundation offers many services to the public. The Museum houses a variety of artifacts: historical artifacts from the McPherson area; natural history artifacts such as meteorites, Ice Age fossils, and regional fossils; ethnic artifacts from China, Africa, and of Native Americans; and fine art, including an extensive collection of Birger Sandzen lithographs and original art pieces.

16. July 4th Celebration

Each year Wamego, KS, hosts an Independence Day celebration like no other. During the three-day celebration, the small-town swells to more than triple its normal size, attracting thousands of visitors from across the globe. The celebration includes a carnival, antique car shows, an ice cream social, band concerts, and the largest and longest running Independence Day parade and firework show in the state.

17. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve protects what remains of the tallgrass prairie in Kansas, and it is a park that required decades of civic action to create. There was once a sense of public indifference to the fate of the prairie, and there were even pockets of vehement opposition to the creation of the preserve. Today’s park is the result of grassroots efforts and a compromise between public management and private ownership.

18. Parmenter Hall, Baker University

Parmenter Hall's distinctive tower above its mansard roof makes this Baker University building easy to spot from Dearborn Street, tucked behind a modern campus building. Also known as Parmenter Memorial Hall, the building was constructed from 1865 to 1871. The building's claim to fame is that President Abraham Lincoln donated $100 toward its construction; this is supposedly the only such donation Lincoln made. On display on the second floor is the Baldwin State Bank ledger from President Lincoln's donation toward the construction of the building. Parmenter Hall was listed in the National Register in 1977. The second floor is now the campus art gallery.

19. The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, more commonly referred to as the Dole Institute, is officially nonpartisan and located at the University of Kansas. The Institute pays homage to Senator Robert J. Dole, who served for Kansas in the US Senate from 1969-1996 and the House of Representatives from 1961-1969. In 1996, Dole was the Republican nominee for President and was defeated by Bill Clinton.

20. Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home

One of the leading attractions of central Kansas, the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home is dedicated to the life of President Dwight Eisenhower. It is home to hundreds of thousands of documents, artifacts, and other materials relating to Eisenhower, World War II, and the Cold War. The complex includes a museum chronicling the life of Eisenhower as well as World War II, and the extensive Eisenhower Presidential Library, which is open to the public for research. The Eisenhower family home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places has been preserved since 1947 and contains original family furnishings.

21. Miners Hall Museum

Located in Franklin, Kansas, Miners Hall Museum is built on the original site of the Union Hall where thousands of women, christened the "Amazon Army" by the New York Times, marched in protest against unfair labor practices and laws across the coalfields of Southeast Kansas. It is dedicated to preserving and sharing Southeast Kansas coal mining history and its diverse immigrant culture.

22. Carver League Building

The historic Carver League Building has long been a staple of the Black community in Pittsburg, Kansas, but it has faced many challenges in recent years that have threatened its continued existence. Thanks to community efforts, it has received a new lease on life.

23. Gordon Parks Museum/Center

The Gordon Parks Museum, located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, offers a collection of photographs and other artifacts related to the life of internationally known photographer, filmmaker, writer, and musician, Gordon Parks. The museum also offers programming related to the life and legacy of the former Fort Scott resident. The center also shares Parks' life story of his family's poverty and bigotry while in southeast Kansas and how the experience shaped his work.

24. Gravesite of Vice President Charles Curtis

Charles Curtis was the 31st vice president of the United States and the first member of an Indigenous tribe to hold this position. Curtis served as President Herbert Hoover’s vice president from 1929 to 1933, during a time when prejudice towards Native Americans was intense and widespread.

25. Gravesite of Edward P. McCabe

E. P. McCabe was an influential member of the Nicodemus community. Born on October 10, 1850, in Troy, New York, he worked for a Wall Street firm before moving to Chicago to work at the Cook County Courthouse in the Treasurer’s Office. In 1878, McCabe arrived in Nicodemus with his friend Abraham T. Hall after joining the Exoduster movement. There McCabe served as secretary of the Nicodemus Town Company, and then County Clerk in 1881 before serving two terms as State Auditor, making him the first African American to hold a statewide office in Kansas. After losing the nomination for the third term, he was appointed Washington Representative of the Oklahoma Immigrant Association, which required him to move from Kansas to Guthrie, Oklahoma where he attained other political posts and fought against segregation, especially in railway coaches and waiting rooms. One of his most profound ideas included making Oklahoma an All-Black state, beginning with the founding of the city of Langston. He died on March 12, 1920, in Chicago but is buried in at the Historic Topeka Cemetery. Today, McCabe is remembered as one of the most important and influential Kansas figures. He is buried in Section 82 of the Historic Topeka Cemetery.

26. Brown v. Board Mural

Across the street from the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site is a new mural to commemorate the landmark Supreme Court case which ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The mural, brilliant and colorful, depicts themes of diversity, equality, and justice through the eyes of a new generation.

27. Monroe Elementary, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site commemorates the history of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and violated the equality of citizens under the 14th Amendment. Members of the local NAACP and thirteen parents representing twenty children filed the lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education in 1951. Some of these children attended Monroe Elementary, one of the four Black schools at the time. Monroe Elementary is now the headquarters National Historic Site, established in 1992. As part of the National Park Service, the site offers programs and exhibits that explore the legal and social history of Brown v. Board.

28. Constitution Hall-The Free State Capitol

Constitution Hall was the first stone building in the city of Topeka and served as the headquarters of protest government formed by anti-slavery settlers in the early years of the Kansas Territory. Between the creation of the territory in 1854 and the start of the Civil War, Congress recognized a pro-slavery government based out of Lecompton as the legitimate government of the territory. In response, settlers representing the majority of Kansans who opposed the extension of slavery into their territory created their own government which was headquartered at this location. After statehood was granted in 1861 (without slavery) this building also served as the official meeting place of the new state government during construction of the East Wing of the Statehouse, five blocks to the south.

29. Historical Marker: Site of the First State Capitol

This historical marker indicates the location of the state's first capitol building, constructed between 1857-1858. It wasn't built purposely to house the state capitol offices; these were established in the building in 1861. The building was called the Ritchie Block. Just a few years later, the current capitol building was constructed. Fidelity Bank has been located here since 1922. The present structure was built in 1967.

30. Mariachi Divina! - Mariachi Estrella de Topeka Musical Tribute

Topeka has long been renowned for its contributions to music in every genre. However, throughout the history of the United States as well as Kansas, few musical groups have been as influential as Mariachi Estrella de Topeka. Consisting of seven women, Mariachi Estrella de Topeka rose to Kansas statewide prominence throughout the 1970s and especially in 1980 and 1981. More importantly, this group was the first all-female mariachi group (a musical genre typically dominated by males) in not only Kansas, but quite possibly the United States. Just as the group was taking off, they met a horrible tragedy in 1981 when the walkways at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City collapsed, killing four members and 110 other people. An eight-foot bronze statue of a female mariachi player rests in front of the Topeka Performing Arts Center, memorializing the musical pioneers. This story captures the importance of preserving Kansas’s Mexican American communities and culture, which are a crucial part of democracy in the United States.

31. Topeka Council of Colored Women’s Clubs (1931)

Starting in 1931, the white frame house at 1149 SW Lincoln was the headquarters of the Topeka Association of Colored Women and Girls. Black women began organizing in the 1880s and 1890s, a time of escalating racial tension that saw the proliferation of both formal and informal racial segregation throughout America. The Kansas Association of Colored Women's Clubs was founded in 1896 and chartered in 1906. In addition to taking an interest in popular Victorian ideals of self-expression and morality, Black women who were members of clubs throughout Topeka and beyond fought for economic opportunities, political equality, and civil rights for their entire race. Black clubwomen worked to help other Black women who worked outside the home - the majority of whom were employed as domestics in this era. The women's clubs worked to establish childcare and kindergartens to help working women. In 1917, eight separate organizations were members of the Council of Colored Women’s Clubs. The African American women’s clubs were important institutions in the development of organization, unity, and leadership within the Black community. The building was later acquired by a local organization known as The Living the Dream Foundation. Among their goals is a historic landmark designation for the building and more education about the experiences of African American women during the late 19th and early 20th century.

32. “Tragic Prelude” Mural

The mural Tragic Prelude in the Kansas State Capitol was controversial for featuring a wild-eyed, larger-than-life John Brown when it was first painted in 1940, but today it hangs in the statehouse as an unforgettable part of Kansas history.

33. Kansas State Capitol

As an architectural landmark that took more than 30 years to complete and cost $3,200,588.92 over a century ago, the Kansas State Capitol stands out even among state capitols. The beautiful copper dome (which is taller than the dome of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.) and the Ad Astra statue, which stands atop the dome, are visible even from distances in Topeka. Built between 1866 and 1903, visitors to the statehouse will find both a window into the past and a chance to see the current state government at work.

34. Wescoe Hall, University of Kansas

Dedicated on April 20, 1974, and named in honor of Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe, who led the University of Kansas from 1960 to 1969, Wescoe Hall is the central hub for the humanities on the KU campus. Originally planned to be a 25-story skyscraper, the modernist concrete structure has inspired many campus legends and remains a center of campus activity. The contrast between the ambitious original plans and the modest four-story building reminds many of the transition seen at many American universities from an education centered on the liberal arts to investment in other fields. The building's location and design have led many to believe it was intended to be a parking garage, while others assume its Cold War-era origins suggest it was intended to double as a bomb shelter. The building replaced the original Haworth Hall and Robinson Gymnasium, which were demolished in 1969.

35. La Yarda

La Yarda is a piece of Lawrence history that was nearly washed away by the Kansas River flood of 1951. In recent years, scholars, filmmakers, and local residents have collaborated to recover the story of this Mexican American community. Their stories highlight the diversity of American democracy and show that the civil rights of Mexican Americans have come a long way in recent decades—though there’s still work to be done.

36. Memorial Arch at Haskell Indian Nations University

The Memorial Arch at Haskell Indian Nations University was funded through the efforts of Native American donors to honor the 415 Haskellites who served in WWI. It also welcomes visitors to the Memorial Stadium, which was created for Haskell’s powerhouse football team in 1926 and was the first-ever stadium built for Native American football.

37. Haskell Memorial Stadium

In 1926, the Haskell Institute dedicated to their new football stadium and arch that had been built largely by Haskell students. With funds raised by Native American donors from all over the country and labor provided students who came to Haskell from dozens of tribes, Native Americans around the nation viewed the stadium with great pride. The size and grandeur of the stadium also represented the prominence of Haskell and several other Native American schools in the college football world during the 1920s. Some of the greatest American athletes attended Haskell including John Levi, Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills.

38. Haskell Indian Nations University

Located in Lawrence, KS, Haskell Indian Nations University is a vibrant and diverse education institution that centers American Indian/Alaska Native culture. While today it is a tribally controlled institution, it also reckons with its past as a boarding school intended to assimilate Native youth.

39. Belleville Post Office New Deal Mural

In 1939, Swedish-born artist Birger Sandzen painted Kansas Stream inside the Belleville Post Office with funding from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts (TSFA). Sandzen, a professor at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, was best known for his colorful, dynamic landscapes of his adopted state. The Belleville Post Office mural depicts an idyllic pastoral scene of four horses gathered near a riverbank.

40. Belleville Municipal Courthouse

Bright white, uniform in design, and three and a half stories tall, the Republic County Courthouse is hard to miss. The words "Republic County Courthouse" in all caps is centered above the front entrance's floor to ceiling art deco windows. Situated at the center of the town square, the courthouse occupies a block all of its own, perhaps a reminder that at the heart of Belleville is a community invested in its civic health.

41. Republic County Historical Society Museum

The Republic County Historical Society Museum is dedicated to remembering, preserving and sharing the efforts of the pioneers settlers and homesteaders who came to our county, beginning in the 1860's. We of course include those of the Pawnee tribal affiliation who were living in Republic County long before European settlers and are pleased to display some of their life in Republic County in our museum. With over 40,000 artifacts in our collection, we offer insight into early agriculture, business and professions in the history of Republic County. Thousands of photographs, documents and objects help create a panoramic view of early life on the Plains. The Historical Museum proudly has on our grounds a rare pioneer log cabin, a rural school, a country church, a vintage barn, a smokehouse and a display building of early agriculture implements to help represent our rural heritage. We also display a Rock Island caboose to represent the importance of trains in settling our area and the fact that the Rock Island Railroad was a very major employer in Republic County for decades.We also proudly display our diverse heritage in Republic County. The east side of our county was settled by Czechs, Slovaks and Morovians primarily. Come see the beautiful examples of Czech glass, Czech language books and clothing. Our county's west side had a heavily Swedish settling, with a company organized to bring Swedish people (and some other Scandinavians) to Republic County. You will enjoy seeing their heritage artifacts at the Museum to preserve the massive influence the Swedish people had and still have on Republic County. So much to see and do!See the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America and local exhibit A.Q. Miller: Lobbying for Early Roads in Kansas at the Republic County Historical Society Museum November 25, 2023 - January 7, 2024. For exhibition and event details, contact the RCHSM directly. Visit humanitieskansas.org for overview of the Kansas tour.

42. Island Park

Island Park is located on 200 Main St. and was the site of Winfield’s Chautauquas from 1887 to 1913. The Chautauqua included a number of different intellectuals who spoke to the public during the summer months. Characterized by the large tents and open fields, Chautauqua was created by co-founder John C. Vincent in western New York, and the movement quickly spread across the country. Chautauqua was one of the most notable nontraditional educational opportunities for adults to learn about the arts, religion, and social movements. Specifically notable is its impact on the women’s rights movement. Chautauqua provided an educational opportunity for rural women (usually exclusive to white women) whose social roles centered on family life only. Through Chautauqua, women were able to continuously learn while remaining in the family sphere. Island Park was a permanent Chautauqua location during its active years. The park is now open to the public with playground equipment for children, a garden, and a waterfall.

43. Winfield City Hall

Civic architecture like city halls, public parks, and pavilions offer evidence of democratic places that support local culture and economic life. These structures often convey civic culture and identity, and act as physical evidence to help us understand local democracy, public participation, and civic values. Today, the Winfield City Hall hosts several important offices, including the City Clerk’s office, Customer Service, Utility Billing, Public Information, Human Resources, Accounting, City Manager’s Office, and Community Development.

44. Winfield Public Library

Located at 605 College in Winfield, KS on the historic Baden Square, the Winfield Public Library has had the honor of serving the local community for over 110 years, since January 1913. Dedicated to providing materials and opportunities for life-long learning, the library offers a wide range of programs and services.Winfield Public Library believe the circle of learning starts with parents teaching babies and comes full circle with us all learning together from each other. Through the circle of learning we build a stronger community for all of us.See the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America and local exhibit Chautauqua" "The Most American Thing in America" presented by the Winfield Public Library October 7 - November 19, 2023. For exhibition and event details, contact the Winfield Public Library directly. Visit humanitieskansas.org for overview of the Kansas tour.

45. Old Depot Museum

Built in 1888, this stone depot was designed by local architect George Washburn and built by the Southern Kansas Railroad, who almost immediately sold it to the Santa Fe. The depot became a division headquarters and once included a 13-stall roundhouse, freight depot, and Railway Express Agency. After seven decades of service, the depot was donated to the Franklin County Historical Society, who uses the building to share the history of Franklin County and the story of railroads in small towns.See the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America and local exhibit Barely Made It: The Naked Voters and Other Franklin County Stories of Democracy at the Old Depot Museum August 19 - October 1, 2023. For exhibition and event details, contact the Franklin County Historical Society directly. Visit humanitieskansas.org for overview of the Kansas tour.

46. Nicodemus Emancipation and Homecoming Celebration

The Nicodemus Emancipation and Homecoming Celebration is held annually the last weekend in July to celebrate the history and heritage of Nicodemus, an unincorporated community in Graham County, Kansas, and the only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi. The celebration commemorates the abolishment of slavery in the United States and the founding of the town. The Emancipation and Homecoming Celebration has taken place every year since 1878. Participants enjoy a variety of activities, such as a parade, wagon and horse rides, a Buffalo Soldiers demonstration, food and craft vendors, dances, church services, and gospel music.

47. District No. 1 School

When formerly enslaved African Americans migrated to the Midwest during the post-Civil War Reconstruction period, they faced many hardships. With little supplies to build stable housing, initial shelters consisted of burrows—a dwelling dug in the side of a small hill or bank. Sod dugouts and wooden structures eventually replaced the burrows. In June 1879 School District No. 1 was established in Nicodemus by Zacharias and Francis Fletcher. Francis taught forty-five pupils in her dugout home until 1887 when a formal four room structure was erected. The establishment of District No.1 School demonstrated the desire for freedom and education of the early homesteaders of Nicodemus.The original school was later destroyed in a fire. A new structure, the one we see today, was built on the same site in 1918. The school closed in the 1950s.

48. Stone Dugout

Formerly enslaved African Americans left the south at the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period in hopes of a better life in the “Promised Land” of Kansas. Some migrated to Nicodemus where they faced many hardships on the Kansas frontier. When Black settlers traveled to the nearest town of Stockton for supplies, they needed a place to stay overnight on the way home. Local laws prevented Blacks from staying in public hotels, so a stone dugout, built in the side of an embankment accommodated them. The Dugout is located on privately owned land. It is visible from the highway only on the north side as you round the curve nearing Stockton (From Nicodemus, 16 miles east of U.S. 24; mile marker 149 and 150). Although the structure is inaccessible today, the history of places like the stone dugout is a stark reminder of the discrimination and hardships placed on emancipated African Americans.

49. Nicodemus National Historic Site

Nicodemus National Historic Site preserves the history of the earliest town established west of the Mississippi River, by African Americans. Nicodemus was named for the first Black man to purchase his freedom, and within a biblical context, has the double-meaning of rebirth. After it became clear that the end of slavery would not lead to economic liberation, the town came to represent hope for many Black Southerners. Many African American religious leaders worked with both white and Black entrepreneurs to establish the town of Nicodemus. Seeking the opportunity to purchase land and secure the independence of land ownership, the original settlers of Nicodemus arrived from the South in 1877, just two years prior to the wave of approximately 20,000 “Exodusters” who abandoned the South for Kansas and other Midwestern states, between 1879 and 1880. The town grew rapidly, but after Nicodemus was bypassed by the railroad expansion, it became difficult to maintain an agricultural community. Still, for many generations, families in the town persisted, and Nicodemus remains the oldest Black town west of the Mississippi.See the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America and local exhibit Nicodemus Politicians presented by the Nicodemus Historical Society July 1 - August 13, 2023. For exhibition and event details, contact the Nicodemus Historical Society directly. Visit humanitieskansas.org for overview of the Kansas tour.

50. Salter House Museum

Today, Argonia is a small town of about 456 people located under an hour’s drive from Wichita, but it holds a big place in the history of Kansas and the United States. It was in Argonia that the first woman in the United States was elected mayor, and she cleared a path for other women to be elected to public office in Kansas soon after.

51. Calvary Baptist Church

The Calvary Baptist Church was once a cornerstone of the Black community in Wichita. When urban renewal plans threatened it with demolition, community members banded together to save it and convert it into a museum of the history and culture of African Americans in Kansas.

52. Dockum Drug Store Sit-In

Seeking racial equity and an end to segregation, Wichita's Black students organized and staged a sit-in on July 19, 1958, at Wichita's Dockum Drugstore, a location now home to the Ambassador Hotel. Long denied entry into the city's movie theaters and restaurants, students exercised their right to peacefully protest over a three-week period at the popular lunch counter. It was one of the first organized sit-ins in the country. A group of young people led by Ron Walters, the president of the Wichita NAACP Youth Council at the time, decided to start the protest. The sit-in was successful after the owner finally relented because the protest was hurting business. Other businesses in Wichita soon followed suit, leading to desegregation throughout the city. Protests like the Dockum Drugstore Sit-In transformed the struggle for racial equity in America and inspired similar protests in Oklahoma City and Greensboro, North Carolina, which took place soon after. A monument honoring the sit-in was erected at this location and later placed in storage with plans to install it one block east within a dedicated urban park.

53. Old Sedgwick County Courthouse

The six-story Old Sedgwick County Courthouse was designed by Wichita architect W.R. McPherson in the Victorian Renaissance style beautifully executed in native limestone and characterized by the steeply pitched roofed towers and the large windows. The courthouse was first constructed in 1888 and completed in 1889 for $197,329. The courthouse served as the seat of county government until a new eleven-story building was completed directly across Main Street in 1959. The Old Sedgwick County Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and remains an impressive reminder of civic architecture.

54. The Kansas African American Museum

With a mission of making “the Kansas African American experience resonant with EVERY Kansan,” the Kansas African American Museum features exhibitions on the history, culture, art, and civic impacts of the Black community of Kansas.

55. The Keeper of the Plains

Created as part of a $20-million riverfront restoration project and dedicated in 1974, The Keeper of the Plains has become the symbol of the city of Wichita. The 45-foot steel sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin stands at the junction of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers. The sculpture stands on a 30-foot tall platform adjacent to the Mid-America All-Indian Center. The sculpture depicts a man who stands “…with hands raised in supplication to the Great Spirit.” The statue acts as a visual reminder of the local tribes that inhabit the area (past and present) and the significant roles Indigenous people played in American history.

56. American Indian Institute (The Roe Indian Institute)

The Roe Indian Institute, later renamed the American Indian Institute, was the first all-Indian high school in the United States. The school was established by Henry Roe Cloud (Wohnaxilayhungah) (c.1884–1950) of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Nebraska. Roe Cloud believed that education was necessary for Native Americans to succeed in American society, so he created the Roe Indian Institute in Wichita. Designed as a college preparatory school for Native Americans, it was in operation from 1915 to 1935 and, at the time, was the only college preparatory school ran by and for Native Americans.

57. Mid-America All-Indian Center

Established n 1969, the Mid-America All-Indian Center works to preserve and share the culture and history of Native Americans, as well as the role they play in society today. The museum features a collection of 3,000 artifacts; these are rotated in new exhibits throughout the year. The museum also features activities and attractions outside, including a tipi, travois (a drag sled for horses and dogs), a wildlife learning center, and a medicinal garden. Events held at the museum include powwows and community nights. Educational programs are also offered including arts and craft classes and field trips.

58. Doc Holliday Statue

Located next to the Boothill Museum is a statue depicting one of the most famous figures of the American West, John Henry "Doc" Holliday (1851-1887). The statue portrays Holiday sitting at table playing cards with three empty chairs that visitors can sit on. Trained as a dentist, which is how he got his nickname, Holliday was also a skilled gambler, gunfighter, and was a close friend of another famous westerner, U.S. Deputy Marshal Wyatt Earp. Holliday, who was ill-tempered, got into a number of fire fights and is known to have killed at least one or two men. The most famous of these confrontations was the gunfight at O.K. Corral (see below), which occurred on October 26, 1881 in the historic city of Tombstone, Arizona.

59. Wyatt Earp Statue

This statue depicts one of the most famous historical figures of American Western history, Wyatt Earp (1848-1929), who was a frontiersman, saloonkeeper, gambler, and lawman. He served as a lawman here in Dodge City in the late 1870s. Earp is perhaps best known for participating in what is probably the most famous gunfight in American history—the gunfight at O.K. Corral, which occurred on October 26, 1881 in the historic town of Tombstone, Arizona. The statue depicts Earp walking at a quick pace, looking to the right and holding his revolver in his right hand and holding his hat in his left hand. The political unrest of early Dodge City is the stuff legends are made of, and Wyatt Earp's contributions to frontier justice continues to entertain our collective imagination.

60. Boot Hill Museum

A combination living history and local history museum, this complex features a number of historic and recreated buildings (including a Santa Fe Railroad Depot, a one-room schoolhouse, and a carriage/Blacksmith's shop), Old West tours and performances, tourist attractions, and museum exhibits. The museum thrills visitors with recreations of the sensationalized gunfights that were featured in the fictional accounts of the era's "dime novels," but also offers exhibits and events that offer a more authentic, if less dramatic, view of life for residents of the Kansas frontier. The museum was founded in 1964.See the Smithsonian traveling exhibition "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" and local exhibit "Respectfully, WB Masterson" at the Boot Hill Museum March 25 through May 7, 2023. For exhibition and event details, contact the Boot Hill Museum directly. Visit humanitieskansas.org for overview of the Kansas tour.

This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.

Sidewalk Civics

Created by Humanities Kansas on December 12th 2022, 6:44:49 pm.

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What does American democracy look like? This tour explores how Kansans have memorialized democracy through statues, monuments, and civic architecture and examines contemporary stories of civic engagement through public art and public spaces that reflect an ever-changing nation. Kansans value their democracy, and you can see it in every town square, city hall, public library, and more. But where else can you see the stories – and visions – of democracy in our hometowns? This Clio tour was created by Humanities Kansas, the sponsor for the exclusive Kansas tour of the “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” Smithsonian traveling exhibition. The exhibit explores the dynamic history of American democracy. The tour is made possible through the Museum on Main Street program. Visit humanitieskansas.org for an overview of the Voices and Votes tour.

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Sidewalk Civics

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