These 6 Kansas Towns Have The Best Historic Districts

Though by no means the oldest state in the country (Delaware pipped it to the post by 74 years), Kansas certainly played a key role in the significant growth that took place in the United States in the mid-1800s. It was then, as those iconic wagon trains slogged their way through the prairies and cowboys drove vast herds of longhorn cattle, that the very first of the Sunflower State’s small towns started springing up.

Starting off as humble encampments of settlers, the communities that survived these tumultuous early years eventually developed rapidly, with tents and wooden shacks giving way to sturdier structures made of stone and brick. Fast forward to today, and the most successful of these town centers are now attractive historic districts that draw tourists from around the Midwest and beyond. Here are a handful of our favorite historic districts in Kansas to inspire you.

Abilene

Located 80-plus miles west of Topeka, Abilene’s roots lie in its role as the terminus of the Chisholm Trail cattle route. First settled in 1858, the town’s growth kicked into high gear with the arrival of the railroad in 1867, making it a hub for shipping cattle eastward. The town's historic downtown preserves the best architecture from these early years, especially along Third Street to the Abilene City Park Historic District.

Covering 23 acres, City Park district is where you’ll find Eisenhower Park with its original early 1900s design; it’s also famous as the place where Eisenhower announced his presidential candidacy in 1952. At the other end of town, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum also features the president’s boyhood home, a two-story white frame house built in 1887. Still furnished with original family possessions, the future president lived here from 1898 until he left for West Point in 1911.

Old Abilene Town, a replica historic district, incorporates several original but relocated buildings and does well in terms of authenticity. In addition to gunfight reenactments, you’ll see the Rock Island Depot, now a gift shop for the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, which operates the only still-running steam locomotive in Kansas.

Council Grove

The Council Grove Historic District is another point on the map that preserves America’s 19th-century westward march. Established as the last outfitting point on the famed Santa Fe Trail before wagon trains entered the dangerous prairie crossing, the district consists of six separate areas around town, each worthy of a visit. Many of Council Grove’s best historic sites are in fact situated along Main Street, which follows the exact route of the original Santa Fe Trail, once the busiest commercial crossing in pre-Civil War America.

Must-visits include the Council Oak site at Main and Chautauqua Streets. It was here that U.S. Commissioners signed a treaty with the Osage Nation in 1825 to ensure safe passage for traders along the trail (the stump of the original oak they sat under can still be seen). The Post Office Oak on East Main Street was another important landmark; also now just a stump, travelers left messages here concerning trail conditions. The adjacent Acorn Hall, built in 1864, is now home to the Morris County Historical Society museum.

Fort Scott

Head to Fort Scott National Historic Site for a chance to see several original structures from the military post that was built here in 1842. Spread across downtown Fort Scott, the site saw three periods of military use: the Indian frontier period (1842-1853), Bleeding Kansas (1854-1861), and the Civil War (1861-1865). And there’s much to see, including the original parade ground flanked by officers' quarters, infantry barracks, and support buildings, all constructed from local limestone.

The Downtown Fort Scott Historic District encompasses nine and a half blocks of the original business district, including Victorian-era commercial buildings such as the Bourbon County Courthouse, built in 1872, and the Scottish Rite Temple dating from 1894. Other historic must-visit sites include the Fort Scott National Cemetery, established in 1862 and the country’s first Civil War-era national cemetery.

Dodge City

If you’re looking for a real old-time Wild West experience, head to Dodge City. The town’s historic district centers on the Boot Hill Museum complex and the reconstructed Front Street, built on the original site of the 1870s business district. The museum encompasses the Boot Hill Cemetery, used from 1872 to 1878 for frontier burials, including several folks who "died with their boots on" in gunfights. Front Street features historically accurate replicas of the Long Branch Saloon, Saratoga Saloon, and other establishments that lined the street during Dodge City's cattle drive heyday from 1875 to 1885.

The Mueller-Schmidt House (aka, the Home of Stone) is Dodge City's oldest building that’s still on its original site. Built of native limestone in 1881, it’s now an interesting museum. Historic trolley tours will take you past the site of Fort Dodge, five miles east of town, built in 1865 to protect those traveling the Santa Fe Trail. You’ll also want to check out the Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame, which includes a 1920s school building and exhibits on frontier education, as well as the Gunfighters Wax Museum.

Lecompton

Lecompton's historic district, while small, is nonetheless impressive. Home to the most complete collection of pre-Civil War territorial buildings in Kansas, it’s here you’ll find Constitution Hall. Built in 1856 using local cottonwood and black walnut, it’s the oldest wood-frame civilian structure in the state and was the scene of fierce debates about slavery that eventually helped elect Abraham Lincoln.

The Territorial Capital Museum is another relic from this period. Built on the foundation of what was intended to be the Kansas Capitol building, it was abandoned until 1882, when it was rebuilt as Lane University, famous as the place where President Eisenhower’s parents met. The large museum houses collections documenting Kansas’ early history, including artifacts from the 1856 Battle of Fort Titus and Camp Sackett.

Lindsborg

Pay a visit to historic downtown Lindsborg, and you might well end up wondering if you’ve arrived in Europe. Founded in 1869 by Swedish immigrants, Lindsborg’s historic district is where you’ll find the largest collection of Swedish-American commercial architecture in the Great Plains. The attractive downtown area features the Swedish Pavilion, originally constructed for the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 and moved to what’s now the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum. Here you’ll also find the Smoky Valley Roller Mill, built in 1898 and in use until 1955.

You’ll also notice a series of brightly painted Dala horses throughout downtown Lindsborg. Standing over six feet tall and hand-painted by local artists, this "Herd of Wild Dala Horses" is ideal for a colorful selfie reminder of your visit. Afterwards, head to the Hemslöjd shop, established in 1899, where you can buy a smaller version of these traditional Swedish Dala horses (they’re made on-site) to take home with you.

The Final Word

Taken together, these six historic Kansas communities provide one of America's most authentic collections of frontier towns. Whether you’re visiting Eisenhower's boyhood home, walking the actual Santa Fe Trail through Council Grove, or exploring Fort Scott's old parade ground, you’ll leave having experienced pivotal moments and places in America’s westward expansion.