Day Trips

There are fun things to check out just a short drive away

Lecompton (6 miles north of Lawrence)
The capital of Kansas Territory from 1855 to 1861, Lecompton hosts several public-access national landmark sites.  Lecompton is best known for its role in the lead-up to the Civil War.  The drama that occurred inside the walls of Constitution Hall, the Territorial Capitol Building and the First Kansas Democratic Headquarters highlights the conflict between pro-slavery settlers and abolitionists.

Eudora (8 miles east of Lawrence)
A revitalized downtown and award-winning wineries make the trip back and forth extra fun.  Also, check out Pendleton’s Country Market.

Baldwin City (15 miles south of Lawrence)
Baldwin City is the home to Baker University, the oldest four-year college in Kansas.  One of the most eye-catching buildings on the Baker campus is a Gothic chapel built in England in 1864 and reconstructed on campus in 1996.  The Midland Railway gives visitors a chance to climb aboard at the historic 1906 Santa Fe Depot.  It offers summer and seasonal rides that kids enjoy.  Adults will enjoy the Kansas Belle Dinner Train that mixes a formal meal with 22 miles of beautiful rolling scenery.

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area

www.freedomsfrontier.org

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area can provide you with a rich list of locations involved in the struggle for freedom in the Civil War era.  Historic sites spread from Eastern Kansas to Western Missouri and help visitors experience the many viewpoints of the freedom story.