Lawrence is located in the state of Kansas and has a lot of culture to offer as well as great sights and interesting destinations. So if you’re planning a trip to Lawrence (Kansas), you’ve come to the right place!
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Vacation in Lawrence (Kansas)
There are plenty of things to do in the city of Lawrence, Kansas, no matter what time of year it is. The city is home to the University of Kansas, which means there are always events and activities going on. In the summer, visitors can enjoy days spent at one of the many city parks or on the riverfront. There are also a number of festivals held in Lawrence throughout the year, celebrating everything from music to art.
Those who are looking for a more relaxing vacation can take advantage of the city’s many museums and cultural attractions. The Lawrence Arts Center is a perfect place to start, with a variety of rotating exhibitions and performances. The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics is also located in Lawrence, perfect for those interested in learning more about American government and history.
No matter what kind of vacation you’re looking for, Lawrence has something to offer. From its bustling campus life to its many parks and attractions, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city.
Sights in Lawrence (Kansas)
Lawrence, Kansas is rich in historical sights and features several attractions that are worth visiting. Many of the city’s landmarks and buildings date back to the 1800s when Lawrence was founded, and the city has been carefully preserved to maintain its Old West character.
The most popular attraction in Lawrence is the Haskell Indian Nations University, a Native American university with a long history and deep roots in the Lawrence community. Other popular sights include the Lawrence Riverfront Plaza, which offers a great view of the river and the city skyline, and the Liberty Memorial, which commemorates the city’s role in the Civil War.
There are also several museums in Lawrence, including the American Museum of Natural History and the Lawrence History Center. The city is also home to a number of art galleries, parks, and other recreational facilities.
With its rich history and abundance of sights and attractions, Lawrence is a great place to visit for a day or a weekend. There is something for everyone in this vibrant and unique city.
History of Lawrence (Kansas)
Lawrence, Kansas is the sixth largest city in the state of Kansas. It is located in Douglas County, Kansas, United States, on the left bank of the Kansas River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 87,643. Lawrence is named after Amos Lawrence, a FreeState settler and prominent abolitionist. The city is situated 25 mi (40 km) east of Topeka, the state capital, and 30 mi (50 km) west of Kansas City, Missouri.
Lawrence was founded in 1854 by New England Emigrant Aid Company settlers on behalf of abolitionist Amos Lawrence, intending it to be a Free State town, “a city upon a hill” and a haven for fleeing slaves. The town immediately became a center of fiercegrabbing, with pro and antislavery forces violently clashing until well into the 1860s, both before and during the Civil War. After the war, the city underwent rapid growth, becoming the largest city in Kansas Territory and the home of the University of Kansas until well into the 20th century. Lawrence would continue to grow rapidly for nearly a century, reaching a population of 80,000 by 1990. However, the economic downturn of the late 1990s hit the city hard, and by 2000 its population had declined to below 90,000. Today, Lawrence is once again a thriving college town and has been ranked one of the best cities in the nation for young adults by Forbes magazine.
The origins of Lawrence, Kansas, can be traced back to the city’s namesake, Amos Lawrence. Lawrence was a wealthy Massachusetts textile merchant who became an ardent supporter of Kansas’ admission to the Union as a free state. In the 1850s, he helped finance the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which assisted antislavery settlers moving to Kansas. A group of Massachusetts investors, led by Jacob Abbott, organized the company in 1854 in an effort to block the extension of slavery into Kansas Territory. The company provided wagons, teams, victuals, and ammunition for settlers headed west, as well as financing for homesteads.
In the spring of 1855, a group of about 700 New Englanders, mostly from Lawrence and Worcester, Massachusetts, journeyed westward in a flotilla of 55 covered wagons. The settlers ranged in age from 2 to 60, and included men, women, and children. This initial group was soon joined by others from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
The settlers arrived in Kansas Territory in late May and early June 1855, and established a temporary camp on the banks of the Kansas River near presentday Bonner Springs. Most of the settlers were from Lawrence and Worcester, and they quickly began to refer to their new home as “Lawrence”.
Many of the settlers were abolitionists, and Lawrence became a hotbed of antislavery activity. One of the first acts of the settlers was to dedication a portion of their claims as a burial ground for slaves who had escaped from Missouri. This cemetery, located just north of the Kansas River, would come to be known as “Freedom’s Cemetery”.
In the fall of 1855, the first elections were held in Lawrence, and a city government was soon established. The first mayor of Lawrence was George Washington Collick, a passionate abolitionist who had settled in the city with his wife and six children.
As word of the free state experiment in Kansas spread, more and more settlers began to pour into the territory. By the spring of 1856, the population of Lawrence had swelled to over 2,000. This rapid influx of settlers led to tensions with neighboring Missouri, a slave state. In May 1856, a group of Missourians raided Lawrence, damaging property and destroying the newspaper offices of the Kansas Free State and the Herald of Freedom.
The violence continued to escalate, and on May 21, 1856, the infamous “Sack of Lawrence” occurred. A proslavery mob, led by Kansas Territorial Governor John W. Geary, descended on Lawrence, burning houses and businesses and terrorizing the citizens.
Despite the violence, Lawrence continued to grow, and by the fall of 1856 the population had reached 3,200. The city continued to be a focal point of the Kansas territorial struggle, and in January 1857, the first legislature of the Kansas Territory met in Lawrence.
The following year, on April 23, 1858, the famous “Lecompton Constitution” was signed in Lawrence. This document, which would have admitted Kansas to the Union as a slave state, was strongly opposed by the citizens of Lawrence. The debate over the constitution split the Territory along sectional lines, and ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Lawrence was once again embroiled in violence. On
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