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SELF GUIDED TOUR
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Begin south of town on Kansas 7/U.S. 73 highway
and head North.
As you drive North
through Lansing, you will pass the Lansing Correctional Facility. The
land was purchased as the proposed site for the prison in 1861, and construction
was started in 1864. Located on the prison grounds is an 1887 Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad freight depot that the Lansing Historical
Society is restoring into a museum. The museum will display numerous Lansing
Artifacts.
Next you will pass
Saint Mary College on your left. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth,
who operate the college, first came to Leavenworth in 1858 and opened
an orphanage and academy for young girls. In 1870 they moved their academy
from a downtown location to its current 240-acre campus. In 1923, the
sisters founded Saint Mary College, now a coed, four-year college.
Across the highway
and just North of Saint Mary College is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Department
of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, once known as the "Old Soldiers'
Home." In 1884 the 640-acre plot was selected and two years later
17 buildings had been completed, including a dining hall that could seat
1,200 minimum. An information center is located at the gate.
The large building
dominating the north end of the grounds is the main hospital, built in
1933. The highlight of the VA is the Chapel of the Veterans, built in
1893. This Gothic building with its gargoyles and stained glass windows
was called the "Believe It or Not" Chapel when it was written
up by Robert Ripley many years ago. It was said to be the only house of
worship where Protestant and Catholic services could be conducted simultaneously
under one roof. It is open to visitors year round.
Leaving the Veterans
Affairs Medical Center and continuing North on Highway 7-73 you will turn
left on Spruce Street. Drive west on Spruce until you reach Fifth Avenue
- there is a museum sign to follow - turn left and you will find the Carrol
Mansion on your right at 1128 Fifth Avenue. Usually a host or hostess
with be available to talk about the beautiful 16-room mansion, built in
1867. The rooms are furnished in mid-Victorian style with heirlooms of
the era. One room, named the Leavenworth History Room has pictures and
articles on local distinguished citizens.
The museum is open
May through August, Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sunday,
1-4:30 p.m.; September through April, Daily 1-4:30 p.m. Closed in January
and major holidays. Admission is charged. Call the museum at (913) 982-7759
for information or to arrange a guided tour for groups.
Across from the museum
on southeast corner, is a large white house that was the home of Judge
David J. Brewer. Brewer was first Supreme Court Justice appointed from
Kansas.
Drive back North on
Fifth Avenue, cross Spruce Street to Seventh and Olive streets where you'll
see the former Home of Fred Harvey, the famous restaurateur. Harvey established
a network of restaurants, first along the Santa Fe Railroad and later
at stations on other lines. The Harvey Houses, with waitresses known as
Harvey Girls, set a standard of excellence for food and fine service in
a part of the country previously know for its gastronomic tortures! Harvey
also developed the dining car system on on American railroads.
In 1883, he purchased
the house for $25,000. At that time, it had porches and gothic dormers
on the exterior, and several fireplaces inside. The National Fred Harvey
Museum will be housed in his former home in 2002.
Return to Spruce Street,
turn right and proceed to Broadway, the first lighted intersection. Travel
north on Broadway to see some of Leavenworth's most beautiful and historic
homes. (These are private residences not open to the public.)
The Queen Anne baroque
home at 714 S. Broadway was built in 1885 and has been completely restored.
It has 21 rooms, nine fireplaces, five full baths, 44 stained glass windows
and a completely finished attic once used as a ballroom. In addition to
the 9,000 square feet of the main house there is a beautiful 2,750 square-foot
coach house in the back.
Further north at 600
S. Broadway is a house built on nearly five acres in 1876 of soft brick.
Around the turn of the century, a layer of stucco was applied over the
brick.
The home at 508 S.
Broadway was built in 1868 in what was originally called Italian Mediterranean
style with a predominately vertical line. In 1914, however, a new owner
added the extensive porches with the heavy stone work. The interior is
highlighted by exposed wood beams, walnut paneling and marble. The swimming
pool was located in the large coach house. Brigadier General "Fritz"
Gruber, Commandant of Fort Leavenworth, died here in 1941. He was the
author of 'Artillery Song,' now known as the Army song.
At 410 S. Broadway
you will find the Clark House, which was built in 1869 by A.M. and F.M.
Clark, early Leavenworth bankers. They had a branch bank in Denver where
they minted coins. That portion of their operation was bought by the U.S.
Government and became the Denver Mint. The home was restored just a few
years ago. Old photographs were used to guide the reconstruction. The
alcove on the north side of the house remains where string ensembles would
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THE DOWNTOWN AREA
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Continue north on Broadway to Delaware Street take a right and then immediately
on the right hand side is The First City Museum, 743 Delaware, that currently
houses a 1913 C.W. Parker Carousel in the process of restoration. There
is also what is thought to be the oldest primitive carousel on display,
as well as a mock-up of the Federal Penitentiary, prison memorabilia and
other frontier memorabilia and artifacts. The museum is open Thursdays
& Fridays Noon - 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Travel to Fifth Street
where on the Northwest corner is the Performing Arts Center, which was
once a movie house. This building is listed on the State Register of National
Historic places and is currently the home of the River City Community
Players, a group that produces theatrical events throughout the year.
One block north on
Fifth Street is City Hall. This building was built in 1924 on the same
site as the original City Hall, which dated from the territorial days.
On the lawn is a replica of the Statue of Liberty, placed and dedicated
by the Boys Scouts in 1950. Near its base the City's time capsule was
buried during the nation's bicentennial celebration. It is scheduled to
be unearthed in July 2076.
At Fourth and Delaware,
southwest corner, is the Mid America Bank & Trust Co. This was once
the location of the opera house, know as Stockton Hall where, in December,
1859, Abraham Lincoln delivered an address.
Across the street,
on the northwest corner, was the location of the headquarters of Russell,
Majors and Waddell, one of the largest overland freight companies in western
history. In 1855 it won the government contract for hauling supplies to
western forts and to the troops in the field. One of its early employees
was William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who began working when he
was about 12 or 13 years old. (The Cody farm was north of the fort in
Salt Creek Valley.) Later Cody transferred to the company's branch enterprise
in St. Joseph, the Pony Express.
Continue east on Delaware
to the two blocks nearest the Missouri River. This two-block area was
the center of economic activity from 1854 to 1870. It is called the Leavenworth
Landing, where thousands of tons of supplies were once unloaded from the
river boats. Pioneers by the thousands came to Leavenworth by boat to
buy their wagons and stock from local merchants before heading west.
The row of brick buildings
on Delaware between Second and Third Streets is a splendid example of
the city's effort to preserve its past while catering to the present.
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THE RIVER VIEW
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At the end of Delaware is the old Union Depot, now on the National Register
of Historic Places. The building was completed in 1884, but because of
contract disputes the first train rolled onto the tracks in November 1888.
In 1984 V.B. Greenamyre
gave the property to the city. Subsequently voters approved a bond issue
and ½ cent sales tax to finance its renovation and expansion. In
1988 the depot was reopened as Leavenworth's Riverfront Community and
Convention Center, a handsome location for meetings and conventions of
up to 350 people. It also houses complete health and recreational facilities.
Just south of the
Riverfront Community Center is the Leavenworth Landing Park which runs
for a third of a mile along the Missouri River. The design of the park
focuses on the role of Leavenworth as the "Gateway to the West",
with emphasis on the various modes of transportation that led to the growth
of Leavenworth as the major jumping off point for settlers heading west.
You may also begin the Wayside Walking Tour at this location.
North from the former
Depot is North Esplanade Street where houses numbered from 203-515. North
Esplanade is designated as a historic district on the National Register
of Historic Places. As you travel north you will see a vacant lot immediatly
to your right, this is where the Planters Hotel stood for 100 years,overlooking
the river landing.
The building at 203
North Esplanade supposedly once housed one of our city's finest "palaces
of pleasure" and was operated by a proud madam. In the early days,
approximately 120 saloons made up an important part of Leavenworth's business
community. Although before the Civil War the population never officially
rose above 8,000, the transient population of those who came to work for
a few days or weeks numbered many thousands. These people stayed just
long enough to get a "grub stake" then moved on to homesteads,
gold mines or to oblivion. |
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FORT LEAVENWORTH
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Continue west on Kiowa to Seventh Street, then turn right and proceed
north to the main gate of Fort Leavenworth.
The fort was established
in 1827 by Colonel Henry Leavenworth and a battalion of his 3rd Infantry
Regiment. It is the oldest Fort west of the Mississippi River that has
never had a break in its active duty status since the day of its founding.
Today the fort is the home of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Command.
Fort Leavenworth oversees
training and combat development for the Army and is the home of the U.S.
Army Command and General Staff College.
Traveling north on
Grant Avenue into the fort will be the Buffalo Soldier Monument located
immediately after the second stop light on the right. This magnificent
monument was dedicated in July 1992. This project was initiated by General
Colin Powell. While stationed at the fort, General Powell noted that only
two short streets were named after the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments
comprised of black soldiers. A fund-raising project was initiated in the
late 1980's and, over one million dollars later the monument was installed.
The Buffalo Soldiers
proved their bravery and valor throughout the Indian Wars. They won the
respect of the Cheyenne warriors who named them "Buffalo Soldiers,"
a badge of honor accepted and worn with pride. This beautiful monument
is indeed a fitting tribute to these black cavalry troopers. At this time
drive on through the parking lot and turn left on Stimson and then right
on Bundel Road to view the Berlin Wall Monument located in the Grove of
Regiments.
Return to Grant to
continue north to the next stop light which is Reynolds Avenue and take
a right to the Frontier Army Museum. The museum is open Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
on Sundays and holidays (closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Years). Donations accepted. You may follow the Fort's Historic Wayside
Tour from this location.
As you leave the main
gate of the fort, turn right and drive west on Metropolitan. This road
will take you by the U.S. Federal Penitentiary. Construction of the prison
was begun in 1895 and was built with prison labor. The first inmates were
housed after its completion in 1906. Although tours of the "Big House"
are not available and visitors without official business are not allowed
on the grounds, there is an overlook down past the prison on the right
where you may stop and take pictures, as well as see Buffalo that are
cared for by inmates. |
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HOMEWARD BOUND
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Metropolitan Avenue is the northern portion of Highway 7-73. You may return
to the beginning of the tour by driving south on 7-73 or you may leave
the city by way of Highway 92, which takes you into Missouri to Interstate
29 north of Kansas City International Airport. To take Highway 92, simply
drive east on Metropolitan and continue across the river over the Centennial
Bridge.
We hope you enjoyed your trip to our community and come back again soon.
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