"Osawatomie, Kansas" Osawatomie by basstbn

Osawatomie, Kansas, is a little town with a big history. For those living on America's east coast, or especially those living on continents with many centuries of recorded history, this will not seem very ancient. But for the American midwest, it is an important historical town.

Osawatomie is named after the Osage and Potawatomie Indian tribes which were moved into this area by the government in 1827. A Methodist mission was established at the town site in 1837, but abandoned in 1848. In 1854, free-state settlers from Ohio and New England established the current town. Osawatomie is best known for its role during the years of bloody conflict prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War.

On each of my visits to Osawatomie, I have been surprised at the bustle of activity in its downtown - uncommon for towns of its size in Kansas.

John Brown's son Frederick and four other anti-slavery men killed in the Battle of Osawatomie are memorialized here. This battle was but one of the multitude of violent skirmishes in "Bleeding Kansas" leading up to the War of Rebellion, aka the Civil War.

Built in 1861 of native limestone by the Reverend Samuel Adair. The third oldest Congregational church in Kansas. Adair was the brother-in-law of the infamous abolitionist John Brown.

• Pros:Easy day trip from Kansas City -
• In a nutshell:Important and interesting historical sites