Leavenworth in Leavenworth County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

"Women of the West"

Spirit of the Buffalo Community Art & History Project

— Artist: Teresa Tomrell, Leavenworth —

"Women of the West" Marker Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2026

1. "Women of the West" Marker Detail

Inscription.

Wak'Ã: Woman
Native Kansa

[Prairie scenes of Native American and European women]

Erected by Leavenworth County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • Women.

Location. 39° 16.938′ N, 94° 54.32′ W. Marker is in Leavenworth, Kansas, in Leavenworth County. It can be reached from South 4th Street. Marker is on the traffic circle in front of the St. John Hospital entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3500 South 4th Street (US Rt 73), Leavenworth KS 66048, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas and specifically in Greater Kansas City.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Saint Mary (approx. 0.3 miles away); CPL David M. Unger (approx. half a mile away); William J. Mulvihill (approx. half a mile away); Ricky M. Rodgers (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Jeremy Lee Drexler (approx. half a mile away); Jeremy A. Katzenberger (approx. half a mile away); Patrick C. Hawkins (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leavenworth.

Regarding "Women of the West". Excerpt from the LCHS Spirit of the Buffalo Project website:

The Leavenworth County Historical Society is proud to present the “Spirit of the Buffalo” Community Art & History Project in Leavenworth County. The outdoor exhibit focuses on connecting residents and visitors to the region's early history, with an emphasis on Kansas Plains Natives and early settlers and their co-habitation with the buffalo.

Local artist Teresa Tomrell has chosen to honor women, whose significant contributions were all too often minimized in historical records. Challenging the perception of women as mere footnotes or supporting characters in

"Women of the West" Marker Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2026

2. "Women of the West" Marker Mural

history, the exhibit demonstrates their central role in shaping early Kansas. These Kansas women—from Native American tribes to early pioneer settlers—were defined by their resilience and grit in the face of westward expansion.

They worked tirelessly alongside their husbands and families, engaging in the physically demanding labor of establishing farms, managing livestock and crops, and creating livable homes from scarce resources like sod or logs. Their days were filled with countless tasks, from cooking over open fireplaces where fires were made using “buffalo chips” collected from the prairies, hauling water from nearby streams, to making clothes and tending to children. All this was accomplished while battling the relentless and harsh conditions of the prairie.

The historical society is dedicated to unearthing and celebrating the stories of these forgotten women such as Sally Journeycake (1797-1873), a Delaware woman who embraced Christianity and influenced her sons to become Baptist preachers or the Kickapoo Indian woman who married Paschal Pensoneau, a French trader and interpreter. And, there’s Mary Cody, mother of Buffalo

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2026

3. "Women of the West" Marker Mural

Bill Cody, who refused to abandon their home in the Salt Creek Valley during Bleeding Kansas Days. These courageous women, many of whom left a comfortable existence in the east, not only endured the hardships of the frontier but also played a crucial role in shaping the social, political, and cultural landscape of the state, demonstrating strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication.

In a moving tribute to women of the past, the artist’s design presents a poignant prairie scene. A magnificent Kansas sunrise and sunset frames a tale of two different cultures. The pioneering spirit is captured in the hopeful light of the rising sun representing the expansion of a nation and the promise of a bright future. On the other side of the buffalo, the rich and complex history of Native American life is depicted against the more somber, reflective tones of the setting sun, evoking a rich and complex history of Native American life, honoring the enduring memory of the past.

"Women of the West" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2026

4. "Women of the West" Marker

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 8, 2026

5. "Women of the West" Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 8, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.