Sunrise Retirement in Lenexa in Johnson County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Legler Barn: A Lasting Legacy
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
1. Legler Barn: A Lasting Legacy Marker
Adam Legler: An Immigrant Journey
Adam Legler and his family came from Switzerland in 1845. They landed at the Port of New Orleans and settled in St. Louis County, MO. Adam became a citizen and served in the U.S. Army. In 1861, they moved to Kansas City to buy farmland for their growing family. After Adam saved enough money, he purchased a plot of land along the Westport branch of the Santa Fe Trail - present day 95th Street and Quivira Road. He built the limestone barn in 1864 with the help of his three sons. Limestone was a more durable choice than wood since it was stronger and could withstand the threat of fires. The Leglers farmed the area for many years and helped Lenexa grow through community service and business development.
"Save the Barn"
Adam's family sold their land in the late 1950s. By the 1960s 'Lenexy', as the Leglers called the town, was growing quickly. Farmland was replaced by homes and shopping centers. The barn was slated for demolition. A group of citizens formed the Lenexa Historical Society to "Save the Barn." The stones were put in storage for about ten years while the group worked to find
this page online
Legler Barn Museum & Depot
The inside of the barn was transformed into a museum for Lenexa's historical documents and artifacts. During the museum's early years, the Lenexa Historical Society collected artifacts, family histories and planned exhibits. Beryl Legler-Hennigh was pivotal to the museum's growth. In 2022, Lenexa Parks & Recreation began management of the museum. The barn remains a symbol of the immigrant journey and of the area's agricultural history.
Did you know…
…the small rectangular windows were used for ventilation in summer? Hay was stuffed in the windows in the winter to block the cold air.
Aside:
"[Barns] are icons for rural life and for everything positive that we have come to associate with that existence, community spirit, hard work, closeness to nature."
-Kansas Barns in Time and Place, James R. Shortridge
Erected by Lenexa Historical Museum and Lenexa
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
2. Legler Barn: A Lasting Legacy Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 38° 58.232′ N, 94° 45.564′ W. Marker is in Lenexa, Kansas, in Johnson County. It is in Sunrise Retirement. It can be reached from West 87th Street Parkway east of Lackman Road. Marker is located in front of the barn at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14907 W 87th St Pkwy, 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: Gardens: A Way to Survive (a few steps from this marker); Wait Station: Connecting Suburbs
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
3. Legler Barn: A Lasting Legacy Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
