Enjoy these latest additions to our website:

Montgomery County, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Montgomery County was formed from Wilson County on February 26, 1867, and named in honor of General Richard Montgomery, who was killed in action during the American Revolution.

White Rock Kansas – Lost in Republic County – (Legends of Kansas) White Rock was a small village in Republic County, Kansas. In its early days, it showed much promise, but the town is gone today.

Junction City and Fort Kearney Railroad – (Legends of Kansas) The Junction City and Fort Kearney Railroad, a subsidiary of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, was incorporated in Kansas on June 29, 1871.

Milford Reservoir & State Park – (Legends of Kansas) Milford Lake, also known as Milford Reservoir, is the largest man-made lake in Kansas. It was built as part of the 1954 flood control act.

Early Indian Residents of Franklin County – (Legends of Kansas) By the treaty of February 23, 1867, this tribe of Indians agreed to dispose of their allotments in Kansas and to remove to a new reservation in the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) within two years. By this treaty, the adult Indians were allowed to sell their own lands, and the chiefs were allowed to sell the lands of minors and incompetents.

Peabody, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) In 1864, the first settler in the area was W.C. Coble, from North Carolina, who set up ranch headquarters about two miles east of the current city. A colony of settlers from Wisconsin was the first settlers in September 1870.

Kansas City, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Kansas City, Kansas, is the county seat of Wyandotte County and is located at Kaw Point, at the junction of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers in the extreme eastern part of the county. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. The Missouri River separates the two cities. As of the 2020 census, the city’s population was 156,607, making it one of four principal cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

October Newsletter – Most Haunted, True Crime, Last Major Train Robbery, Native American Heritage Month, and much more in this month’s newsletter.

Tecumseh, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Tecumseh got its start when Indian trader Thomas N. Stinson built a home on a 60-acre parcel in 1852. This was before Kansas Territory was opened to settlers, but he had married a Shawnee woman, and they received a direct land grant.

Bourbon County, Kansas in the Civil War – (Legends of Kansas) Article on the Civil war in Fort Scott and Bourbon County, Kansas.

Bourbon County, Kansas Border Troubles – (Legends of Kansas) After the invasion of the area in March 1855 by Missourians to participate in the election of March 30, Bourbon County, Kansas, violence began.

Uniontown, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Uniontown, Kansas, one of the early settlements of Bourbon County, is situated in the Marmaton River Valley. When this community started in the 1850s, it was first called Turkey Creek.

Bronson, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) In October 1881, the town and its post office moved south to Marion Township when the St. Louis, Fort Scott, and Wichita Railroad,  a subsidiary of Missouri Pacific, arrived. This was probably the first time a U.S. post office was moved without the government’s approval.

Mapleton, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) When a post office was established on June 15, 1857, it was called Mapleton for a grove of maple trees near the original town site.

Holcomb, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) This community got its start in 1872 when it was first called Sherlock in honor of Thomas Sherlock, Sr., a director of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.

Kalvesta, Kansas – Extinct in Finney County – (Legends of Kansas) Kalvesta, Kansas, is an unincorporated community in Finney County. It is also an extinct town, as it no longer has a post office. Its name was derived from the Greek word kalos, meaning “beautiful,” and Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth and home.

Finney County, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Finney County, Kansas, in the southwest part of the state, is in the Arkansas River Lowlands. It was named for David Finney, the Lieutenant Governor of Kansas from 1881 to 1885.

Pierceville, Kansas – Tiny Town in Finney County – (Legends of Kansas) Cattlemen created Pierceville in the early spring of 1872 when the Barton Brothers drove 3,000 head of cattle up from southern Texas over the Great Western Trail.

Garfield County, Kansas – Lost in County Seat War – (Legends of Kansas) Garfield County, Kansas, located in the southwest portion of the state, was created on March 5, 1887 but only existed until 1892 after court battles.

September Newsletter – Adventure from Alamosa, Kansas Blizzard of 1886, Monster Crash at Crush, Haunted St. Augustine, and More! in this month’s Newsletter.

Adventure from Alamosa – Dunes to Ruins (Travel Blog) – Looking for a “base” to explore parts of Southern Colorado, we landed in Alamosa for a fun few days of exploring the Great National Sand Dunes and the historic mining district of Creede Colorado.

Kansas Blizzard of 1886 – (Legends of Kansas) The blizzard of December 1885 and January 1886 was probably the most destructive to life and property of any storm that ever swept over Kansas.

Jetmore, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Jetmore, Kansas, the county seat of Hodgeman County, was initially called Buckner when it was laid out in 1879.

Hodgeman County, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Hodgeman County, Kansas, in the southwest part of the state, was established and named for Amos Hodgman, a Captain of the 7th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry and noted buffalo hunter, in February 1887.

The Legend of Daisy Town: A Journey Through Time in the Smoky Mountains – (submitted by Ck Harrington) Daisy Town’s story is intricately woven into the tapestry of American history, reflecting the birth of tourism and the inception of the National Parks.

Missouri in the Civil War – During the Civil War, Missouri was a hotly contested border state populated by Union and Confederate sympathizers.

John C. McCoy – Founder of Westport, Missouri – John Calvin McCoy, Sr. founded Westport, Missouri, where he settled in 1830. He was also one of the founders of the Town of Kansas, Missouri, in 1838, which later became Kansas City, Missouri.

Padouca Indians – Accounts of early exploration in the West show that the Padouca Indians, under their various similar names, occupied the central plains.

The Great Pennsylvania Railroad System – The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the “Pennsy,” was an American Class I railroad established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sylvan Grove, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Sylvan Grove, in Lincoln County, is located in north-central Kansas, designated as “Post Rock Country.”

Silkville, Kansas – Failed Utopia – (Legends of Kansas) Silkville, Kansas, located in Franklin County, was a collection of private buildings owned by Frenchman Ernest de Boissiere, whose farm consisted of 3,600 acres under the management of Charles Sears.

Minneola, Kansas – A Ghost in Franklin County – (Legends of Kansas) Minneola, Kansas, in Franklin County, started as St. Bernard in 1855. The town no longer exists today.

Bonner Springs, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) The area’s early settlers were the Kanza Indians, who had lived here because of the mineral springs and abundant fish and game.

Junius George Groves – Potato King of the World –  (Legends of Kansas) Junius George Groves was an African American farmer and entrepreneur remembered as one of the wealthiest black Americans of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Edwardsville, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) A Delaware Chief named Half-Moon was the original owner of the land where downtown Edwardsville now stands.

Turner, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Turner, Kansas, now a neighborhood within Kansas City, Kansas, was formerly an unincorporated community of Wyandotte County.

Armstrong, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Armstrong, Kansas, once an independent city in Wyandotte County, is part of Kansas City, Kansas, today.

Give Yourself A Break: How to Travel On a Budget With Kids – (By Daniel Sherwin – DadSolo.com) Traveling with young children can be a daunting task, especially for parents who are on a tight budget. However, with the right preparation, traveling can be a fun and rewarding experience for the whole family.

June Newsletter – The Beginnings of Kansas City, Cliff Dwellers, A ghostly ghost town, Wicked Dodge, and Legends Turns 20! In this month’s newsletter.

White Church, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) White Church, Kansas, located nearly in the center of Wyandotte County, was one of the earliest settlements in the area. An extinct town today, it was located about ten miles west of the town of Wyandotte.

Rosedale, Kansas – From Municipality to Neighborhood – (Legends of Kansas) Rosedale, Kansas, was platted in Wyandotte County in 1872 by James G. Brown. However, the building of the town did not begin until 1875, when the roller mills were established.

Amourdale, Kansas – Once a City, Now a Neighborhood – (Legends of Kansas) Armourdale, Kansas, once an independent municipality, is a neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, today.

Six-Gun City, Jefferson, New Hampshire – Six-Gun City in Jefferson, New Hampshire, was a Frontier Western-style amusement park that thrilled young cowboys and cowgirls for almost 60 years

Longview Farm, Lees Summit, Missouri – Longview Farm in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was built by millionaire lumber baron Robert Alexander Long. It is listed on the National Historic Register.

William M. Chick – Kansas City Founder & Pioneer – William M. Chick was a Kansas City, Missouri pioneer, founder, merchant, and first postmaster.

Historic People of Kansas City, Missouri – Every city and every place leaves behind numerous people that made it what it is today. Here are a few that shaped Kansas City, Missouri.

Colonel Kersey Coates – Kansas City Businessman – Colonel Kersey Coates was a Kansas City, Missouri businessman, who developed Quality Hill, founded the Kansas City Board of Trade, and was among those who attracted the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad to the city.

Lost Orpheum Theatres in Kansas City – In Kansas City, Missouri’s history, there were two Orpheum Theatres that provided a higher class of vaudeville entertainment.

Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Virginia – Buckroe Beach, a neighborhood of Hampton, Virginia, is north of Fort Monroe on the Chesapeake Bay. The amusement park that was once here is gone today.

Missouri Pacific Railroad – The Missouri Pacific Railroad, also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River.

John Margolies – Roadside Photographer – John Margolies was a fantastic photographer, author, and architectural critic who captured thousands of photographs of buildings and roadside attractions between 1969 and 2008.

Easy Travel Organization Tips You Will Love – Whether a seasoned traveler or going for your first-ever adventure, getting organized is always a pain in the neck. Use these tips for easy travel.

Oklahoma Santa Fe Trail Sites – The smallest portion of the Santa Fe Trail was in Oklahoma. Of the two major trail branches, only the Cimarron Route crossed into the state through the western portion of the Oklahoma panhandle in modern Cimarron County.

Bidwell-Bartleson Party – Blazing the California Trail – The Bidwell-Bartleson Party, led by Captain John Bartleson and John Bidwell, became the first American emigrants to attempt a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.

New Lancaster – Extinct in Miami County – (Legends of Kansas) The first school taught in Miami County was taught in this area in 1858 by Mrs. Cyrus Shaw. A post office was established in the settlement on February 17, 1859.

Miwok Indians of Northern California – The Miwok people are members of four linguistically related Native American groups indigenous to Northern California.

Mining and Manufacturing in the West – Indeed, the minerals rather than the land attracted the pioneers who opened the West. (Historic text from 1921)

Evolution of Grazing and Agriculture – The effect of irrigation, wherever introduced, was amazing. Stretches of sand and sagebrush gave way to fertile fields bearing wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables, and grass crops. (Historic text from 1921)

The Railways As Trail Blazers – A decade before the Civil War, the importance of rail connection between the East and the Pacific Coast had been recognized. (Historic text from 1921)

Indian Tribes of California – It has been estimated that when Europeans first came to California, the native population was probably close to 300,000, about 13% of indigenous peoples in North America.

A Nation Was Born Here  (Legends Travel Blog) – Our arrival in Washington On the Brazos coincided with the annual Texas Independence Celebration. And we explored Navasota, Train Town USA.

Battlefields and Rockets at Brownsville (Legends Travel Blog) For our Winter 2023 adventure, we came back to the Lone Star State, visited the southernmost fort, and found a Starbase… far out!.

Frank Hamer – Captain Frank Hamer was a Texas Ranger and Lawman who led the posse that tracked down and killed notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934

Navasota, Texas – Train Town USA – Navasota, Texas, located on a bend of the Navasota River in southeastern Grimes County, started in 1822 when Francis Holland bought land there.

Miami County, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Miami County, Kansas, located in the east-central part of the state, is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Stanley, Kansas – Extinct but Still Here – (Legends of Kansas) Stanley, Kansas, eight miles southeast of Olathe in the eastern part of Johnson County, was annexed to Overland Park in 1985.

Kansas Becomes Part of the United States – (Legends of Kansas) A summary of time periods leading to Kansas becoming part of the United States.

Period of Political Contests – (Legends of Kansas) The Missourians had given up hope of conquering Kansas by force. The contest then became a political struggle between pro-slavery & Free-State supporters.

The Period of Violence – (Legends of Kansas) Missourians prepared to invade Kansas, destroy Lawrence, & drive the Free-State people out or force them to recognize the pro-slavery Government.

Rival Governments in Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Two governments were established in Kansas Territory – one for pro-slavery advocates and the other for those fighting for the Free-State cause.

The First Territorial Government of Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) When a territory is organized, it must be provided with a government. However, Kansas residents were immediately at odds regarding government intent.

Kansas Organized as a Territory – (Legends of Kansas) White settlers did not come to Kansas in peace and quiet; the first dozen years following 1854 were filled with hatred,  struggle, and bloodshed.

Exploration of Kansas by the United States – (Legends of Kansas) Several expeditions were sent westward to explore new lands after the Louisiana Purchase.

Black Bob Reservation in Johnson County – (Legends of Kansas) Chief Black Bob and his Shawnee band of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, lived on land controlled by Spain in eastern Missouri before moving to Kansas.

The Beginning of Kansas History – (Legends of Kansas) The Spanish are the first to explore much of the United States including Kansas.

Make History Come Alive With These Online Tools and Resources – (By Daniel Sherwin – DadSolo.com) From interactive maps to digital archives, these resources allow you to supplement your lessons with engaging activities that keep your students interested.

February Newsletter – Buffalo Soldiers, Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, Presidents, heroes, traitor, and Hey, Your Truck’s on Fire! in this month’s Newsletter.

Pioneer Life in Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) The seven territorial years had brought freedom to Kansas. However, the struggle left the pioneers little room for improvement.

Kansas After the Civil War – (Legends of Kansas) The earlier years in Kansas were but a time of preparation, and with the war’s end, the people were at last free to turn their attention to farming or other occupations.

Kansas as an Indian Country – (Legends of Kansas) During the years when the white men were traveling back and forth across Kansas, they were not making settlements here. The country remained in the undisputed possession of the Indians.

James Buchanan – 15th President – James Buchanan was a lawyer, diplomat, and the 15th President of the United States, who served immediately before the Civil War. He remains the only President to be elected from Pennsylvania and a lifelong bachelor.

Chinese Immigration to the United States – In the 1850s, Chinese workers first migrated to the United States to work in the gold mines and take agricultural jobs and factory work. It would begin a century-long struggle for immigration rights.

Purchase of Alaska, 1867 – The purchase of Alaska in 1867 marked the end of Russian efforts to expand trade and settlements to the Pacific coast of North America.

Union Victory of the Civil War – The Union victory in the Civil War demonstrated the strength of the United States Government.

Samuel de Champlain – Explorer & Diplomat – Samuel de Champlain was an important figure in Canadian history who created the first accurate coastal map during his explorations and founded various colonial settlements.

War on the Oregon & California Trails – Once-friendly Western tribes watched with mounting anger as emigrants helped themselves, often wastefully, to their game, grass, water, and wood.

Ship Wrecks of Cape Cod, Massachusetts – With good cause, sailors steered clear of the Cape Cod coast, for over the years, thousands of vessels have been destroyed on its bars and rocks.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts & National Seashore – The name Cape Cod, coined in 1602 by Bartholomew Gosnold, is the ninth oldest English place name in the United States. Cape Cod National Seashore has long inspired wonder among those who value nature.

Nauset Tribe of Cape Cod, Massachusetts – The Nauset people, sometimes referred to as the Cape Cod Indians, were a Native American tribe who lived in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The Continental Army – The Continental Army represented the Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution. The army was created to coordinate the military efforts of the colonies in the war against the British, who sought to maintain control over the American colonies.

The United States – A New Nation – The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, established a new nation and transformed a limited uprising into a revolution that wasn’t easy to pay for.

General Anthony Wayne – Brave Officer of the American Revolution – Anthony Wayne was an American soldier, officer, politician, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

James Madison – 4th President of the United States – James Madison Jr. was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth President of the United States from 1809 to 1817. (Historic text from Eminent Americans, Vol II, 1890)

January 2023 Newsletter – American Hero, Dinner with Sam Adams, Taos Revolt, The Lady & the Mule, and much more! in this month’s Newsletter.

The Beginnings of New Jersey – (From Chronicles of America Series, 1919) New Jersey, called Scheyichbi by the Indians, had a history somewhat different from that of other English colonies in America. It was a good-sized dominion surrounded by water, almost an island domain, secluded and independent. It was the only one of the colonies which stood naturally separate and apart. The others were bounded almost entirely by artificial or imaginary lines.

Mary Jane Simpson – The Lady and the Mule – Author Daniel R. Seligman brings us the story of Mary Jane Simpson, who is remembered in death not as the feisty reporter who stood up to the predatory industrialists, but as the namesake of a lovable mule in Virginia City, Nevada.

My Dinner with Samuel Adams – Author A.L. Talarowski brings you face-to-face with America’s Founding Father Samuel Adams in a conversation using actual quotes. From My Dinner with the Founding Fathers, award-winning finalist in the Short Story category of the 2022 American Fiction Awards.

Clay County, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) Clay County was created from unorganized territory in 1857 and named in honor of the famous American statesman Henry Clay, a member of the United States Senate from Kentucky who served as Secretary of State.

Marion, Kansas – (Legends of Kansas) First called Marion Centre, it was founded in June 1860 when surveyors told settlers in five covered wagons at Emporia, Kansas, that there was good, virgin farmland about 60 miles to the southwest.

Post Rock Scenic Byway – (Legends of Kansas) Making its way over the Smoky Hills of north central Kansas, the Post Rock Scenic Byway winds through 18 miles of fields and prairie across hills, creeks, and valleys, displaying numerous stone fence posts for which this route was named.

Melvern, Kansas – Building Bridges in Osage County – (Legends of Kansas) Melvern, Ks, along the Marias des Cygnes River, got its start when settlers arrived in the area in the 1860s. It was first called Junction Hills.

Midland Trail – First Transcontinental Auto Trail – The Midland Trail, also called the Roosevelt Midland Trail, was a national auto trail spanning the United States from Washington, D.C., west to Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.

 

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