Sunrise Retirement in Lenexa in Johnson County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Lenexa Railroad Depot: Spurs Growth
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
1. Lenexa Railroad Depot: Spurs Growth Marker
Establishing the Foundation
Depots connected small communities to larger markets, which created growth in rural Johnson County in the late 1800s. Squire Charles A. Bradshaw and his wife Sarah knew that a depot in Lenexa would promote development and growth.
In 1869, they sold two acres of their fruit orchard to the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad Company for a dollar. The sale agreement required that they build and maintain a depot. That agreement saved the depot from demolition in the late 1970s and again in 1983 when Burlington Northern considered building a new depot further away.
When the Bradshaws sold the land to the railroad, they also sold two sections of land to a developer by the name of Octave Chanute. This 41-acre acre is now known as Old Town Lenexa.
Forming was the main form of income for the community until the 1960s. For many years, truck farmers from the area brought their goods to ship from the Lenexa depot. Railroads promoted trade for craftsmen and farmers.
Preserving the History
To date, four depots have been built in Lenexa. Since the depot was an important factor in the
this page online
A moving company used ten, 20-ton jacks to lift the building onto a trailer. Once on the trailer, it took them 58 minutes to travel 1.7 miles from the original location. After the move, the building was restored and turned into a museum.
Did you know…
…that the railroad allowed spinach and other vegetables grown in Lenexa to be shipped as far as Chicago in iced rail cars? Lenexa became known as the "Spinach Capital of the World" thanks to the railroads. The Spinach Festival each September celebrates this part of Lenexa's history.
Timeline at bottom:
1869 - The first Lenexa depot was built on the south side of the tracks.
1907 - The second depot was built after fire destroyed the first depot.
1912 - The third depot was built on the north side of the tracks after a fire once destroyed the second depot.
Erected by Lenexa Historical Museum and Lenexa Parks & Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
2. Lenexa Railroad Depot: Spurs Growth Marker
Marker is the left of the two markers
Location. 38° 58.206′ N, 94° 45.57′ W. Marker is in Lenexa, Kansas, in Johnson County. It is in Sunrise Retirement. It can be reached from West 87th Street east of Lackman Road. Marker is located at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14907 West 87th Street, Lenexa KS 66215, 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 Corn Belt, on the prairies, on the Southern Plains, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Depot Operations & Layout (here, next to this marker); The Burlington Northern Caboose: Control Center & Home (a few steps from this marker); Wait Station: Connecting Suburbs (a few steps from this marker); Legler Barn: A Lasting Legacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Bandstands: Bringing the Community Together (within shouting distance of this marker); Gardens: A Way to Survive (within shouting distance of this marker); The Rose Family (approx. ¼ mile away); Lenexa Rolling Magic Skate Park (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lenexa.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 28, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
