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Self-guided Tour
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 sit to entertain guests.
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