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Historic Lecompton

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Lecompton, KS
Historic Lecompton

Birthplace of the Civil War--Where slavery began to die. Lecompton was voted a "best small town" in Kansas by the readers of KANSAS! Magazine! Woodson).
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There is a lot of history in Lecompton, Kansas! We have two museums--Constitution Hall (319 Elmore Street) and the Territorial Capital Museum (640 E. Plus lots of historic sites around town to visit. And lots of things to do: http://www.lecomptonkansas.com/things-to-do-in-lecompton/

Lecompton was the capital of Kansas Territory. The happenings in the Kansas Territory caused a rupture in the rela

tions of the North and South. There was constant conflict between the pro-slavery and free-state factions. Lecompton was considered the center of the pro-slavery movement, which of course was unsuccessful. Kansas entered the Union on January 29, 1861, as a free state, and the Civil War began. Lecompton was founded in 1854 and platted on a bluff on the south bank of the Kansas River. It was originally called "Bald Eagle," but then later changed to Lecompton in honor of Samuel D. Lecompte, the chief justice of the territorial supreme court. In 1855, the town became the permanent and only official capital of the Kansas Territory. President James Buchanan appointed a governor and officials to establish government offices in Lecompton, and construction began on an elegant capitol building which later became Lane University and then the Territorial Capital Museum

In the fall of 1857 a convention met in Constitution Hall and drafted the famous Lecompton Constitution, which would have admitted Kansas as a slave state. The constitution was rejected after intense national debate and was one of the prime topics of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The controversy contributed to the growing dispute soon to erupt in civil war. The Lecompton Constitution failed, in part, because the antislavery party won control of the territorial legislature in the election of 1857. The new legislature met at Constitution Hall and immediately began to abolish the pro-slavery laws. The victorious free-state leaders chose Topeka as capital when Kansas became a state in 1861.

05/21/2026

A great group from the Basehor Community Library came to visit Historic Lecompton yesterday. It's their first visit, at least in recent years, to our town. The Bleeding Kansas play was first on their agenda and the group asked lots of questions at its conclusion. It was obvious that they knew their Kansas history! They toured both museums after the play. Thank you, William, a library staff, for arranging the tour. We hope you come again!

05/15/2026

It has been a very busy week in Historic Lecompton with students visiting as they were finishing their study of Kansas history. Richard Warren Middle School in Leavenworth brings their 7th grade students every year. The social studies/history faculty provide comprehensive coverage of Kansas's important history; hats off to them!

The 104 students, over two days, participated in the Bleeding Kansas play and toured both museums. We know it was hard to fully concentrate since school is over for them next week, but they did a good job being attentive. We hope to see you next year!

05/13/2026

On Monday, we had a very unexpected visitor at the Territorial Capital Museum. Ha-Kyung Choi, a reporter from the Korea Heritage Society, is in the US to report on various historical sites that are presenting America 250 exhibits. As he was touring the museum, he saw a Korean War Veteran's cap that was given to the museum by Bob Weeks. He was very excited to see this cap commemorating the Korean War.

Mr. Choi promised to send the article that he is writing to us when it's completed. We'll have to find someone to translate!

05/05/2026

We will be closed from 1 - 4 pm on Wednesday, May 6, to attend the funeral of our Board member and dear friend, Jack Ogelsby.

05/02/2026

On Thursday, 45 students, teachers and parents from Most Pure Heart of Mary School from Topeka visited Historic Lecompton. They were great participants in the Bleeding Kansas Play and toured the Territorial Capital Museum and the Constitution Hall afterward. As always, the students were attentive and well behaved though it was obvious that the their school year was soon to be over.

Most Pure Heart is a repeat visitor and we look forward to seeing them next year!

05/01/2026

We're nearing the end of our school tours as summer break is almost here. This week on Wednesday, we enjoyed having 130 students from the Patton Junior High School from Ft. Leavenworth Kansas visit us. The tour started with the Bleeding Kansas play at the Territorial Capital Museum followed by lunch on the bleachers of the ball field. Afterward they split into two groups to alternate touring our historic museums. If you happened to see a large number of early teens walking through town, that's who they were. Patton Junior High is an annual visitor to Historic Lecompton and we hope to see them next year!

04/30/2026

With great sadness, we have lost one of our Board members, volunteer extraordinaire and friend, Jack Oglesby. Jack donated many, many hours of service to the Historical Society and was our resident historian. As a retired history teacher, he was an expert on the subjects of Kansas history, Territorial history and the Civil War. He has given many artifacts to the museum reflecting those historic periods. These items will be treasured.

Jack passed away in Baton Rouge doing what he loved, touring Civil War sites. His funeral will be held at Barnett Family Funeral Home in Oskaloosa at 3pm on Wednesday, May 6th. Visitation is before the service from 1 - 3pm.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

04/24/2026

Yesterday we had GREAT students from Veritas Christian School in Lawrence and St. Patrick School in Kansas City visit Historic Lecompton. The students were very interested in Kansas history and their questions reflected their knowledge. The St. Patrick students had just finished learning Kansas history and each wrote an essay about one of the historical figures from the Territorial Kansas period. During the museum tours, the students from Veritas were fascinated with the artifacts in the farming and early home exhibits at the Territorial Capital Museum. Hats off to the teachers who have helped instill a love of learning in these students.

We hope to see you both next year!

04/11/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to today's celebration of the Lewis-Crowder African American Cemetery. Our panel shared the history of the cemetery, personal connections to the cemetery and provided insight to those buried there. Panelists included Ahnya Lewis, a descendent of the Lewis family, Megan Bruey, who wrote the National Register nomination, Jan Shupert-Arick, former Heritage Coordinator for Douglas County, and Paul Bahnmaier, President of the Lecompton Historical Society.

About seventy people were in attendance including U.S. Congressman Derek Schmidt, Kansas House Representative Mike Amyx, Kansas Senator Marci Francisco, former Kansas House Representative Tom Sloan, County Commissioner Karen Willey, Director of the Cultural Resources Division and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, Director Katrina Ringler, and Douglas County Heritage and Conservation Director, Kaitlyn Ammerlaan. Community members who helped in the early restoration of the cemetery were in attendance as well. Immediately after the program, those interested in seeing the cemetery were invited to caravan to the Lewis-Crowder Cemetery just outside of Lawrence.

04/10/2026

A very smart group of 7th graders from Trinity Lutheran School in Atchison visited Historic Lecompton today. It was obvious from their questions that they knew Kansas history. They participated in the Bleeding Kansas play...HAZZAH! They also toured both museums in town. As this is their first year visiting, we hope to see them next year!

Address

Elmore Street And Woodson Street
Lecompton, KS
66050

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(785) 887-6148

Website

http://www.lecomptonkansas.com/

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