William B. Strang Jr. Statue

Dedicated on May 20, 2006, as part of the 100th anniversary of Overland Park, this 400-pound bronze sculpture by artist Kwan Wu depicts city founder William B. Strang Jr. The statue recognizes Strang for his central role in establishing the community, starting with his 1905 purchase of 600 acres along the remnants of the Santa Fe trail in rural northeastern Johnson County. Strang created a town and a trolley line, recognizing the two would be mutually supporting as the completion of his Kansas-Missouri Interurban Railroad, commonly known as the Strang Line, increased the value of his real estate purchases by connecting the lots he sold to Kansas City's vast streetcar network. Strang platted out housing subdivisions, one of which he named Overland Park in reference to its location on the historic overland trail with "park" added to give it appeal to potential buyers. This statue is one of several monuments and markers in the area that recognize the history of the suburban community.

William B Strang Jr. was born in Syracuse, New York, on November 8, 1857. His parents were Irish immigrants. As a young man, Strang worked as a laborer building the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Strang worked his way up in several railroad organizations, learning the business of surveying, constructing, and managing a railroad. By the late 1880s, he had established his own construction company, which was hired to build railroad lines in Kansas and across the South. He also began raising capital to build his own small lines.

In 1892, Strang married Margaret Morrison of Wellington, Kansas. His company had just completed the Wellington and Western Line in the area. After the death of his father, William Strang Sr., in 1899, his mother moved to Kansas City, Missouri. She invited her son and daughter-in-law to visit her there in 1903, shortly after the city had suffered a massive flood. While in Kansas City, Strang conceived of creating a community that would be immune to flooding. This was the genesis of his idea of building a railroad from Kansas City, Missouri. to Olathe, Kansas, with planned communities along its route. By 1904, he was already securing the right-of-way for his Kansas-Missouri Interurban Railroad, known at that time as the Strang Line. He also began purchasing tracts of land along the route of the railroad, which roughly followed the northernmost route of the Santa Fe Trail. At the point where his new rail line crossed the Santa Fe Trail, at one of the highest points in the county, he purchased 600 acres in 1905 for the first of these communities. He platted out streets and housing divisions, one of which he named "Overland Park" in reference to the "overland" Santa Fe Trail with "park" added to make it sound more appealing to buyers. This became the name for the town of Overland Park, which was founded in 1906. Many of the streets are named for Strang's family members, friends or employees of the Strang Line. In the treeless environment of the time, Strang advertised that every lot had a view of downtown Kansas City.

Strang and Margaret built a house at 80th and Marty in Overland Park so that he could manage his railroad and promote his real estate investments. The Strang Line was more than a promotional tool to generate interest in this streetcar suburb as it connected the residents of rural northeastern Johnson County with the rest of Kansas City, attracting potential home buyers who were looking for affordable land and cleaner air in an era when smokestacks dominated the city skyline and West Bottom feedlots and open sewers permeated the air. Strang lobbied the county for better roads and utilities. Strang created promotions such as concerts and fairs and even built a flying field for public demonstrations or airplanes, which included the Wright Brothers.

When Strang passed away from a heart attack in 1921, Overland Park had grown into a modest-sized town, well on its way to becoming one of Kansas' largest cities. Stang's central role in the early development of Overland Park was a prominent part of the May 20, 2006, celebration of Overland Park's 100th anniversary, which included the unveiling of this statue of William B. Strang Jr. The city commissioned the work from sculptor Kwan Wu in 2004. Wu is well known for his historical sculptures in the area, including pieces in Lawrence, Kansas City, Missouri., Olathe, and Merriam. the 7' tall, 400lb bronze sculpture was funded by the city, the Overland Park Heritage Foundation, the Johnson County Board of Commissioners, and private donations. Rather than depicting Strang in a formal pose, Wu depicts him as he would have looked as if he were surveying the first plats of the city. He gazes out over the plains with his rolled-up plans in his right hand. This statue represents Overland Park's continued celebration of its history and traditions, which includes the preservation of many historic buildings and sites related to William B. Strang and his railroad.

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