St. Marys in Pottawatomie County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

St. Marys

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, July 1, 2010

1. St. Mary's Marker

Inscription. This city and college take their name from St. Mary's Catholic Mission founded here by the Jesuits in 1848 for the Pottawatomie Indians. These missionaries, who had lived with the tribe in eastern Kansas from 1838, accompanied the removal to this area. A manual labor school was operated at the mission until 1871. From it developed St. Mary's College, chartered in 1869. In 1931 the college became a Jesuit seminary. A boulder on the campus marks the site of the first cathedral between the Missouri river and the Rocky Mountains. Built of logs in 1849, it became the See of Bishop Miege "Bishop of the Indians." Vice President Charles Curtis, part Kaw Indian, was baptized in this parish on April 15, 1860.

The mission was an important stopping point on the Oregon trail. Here also was the U.S. Pottawatomie agency. This building still stands 600 feet northwest of this marker.

Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Kansas Historical Society, the Oregon Trail, and the Potawatomi Trail of Death series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1909.

Location.

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39° 11.412′ N, 96° 3.627′ W. Marker is in St. Marys, Kansas, in Pottawatomie County. Marker is at the intersection of East Bertrand Street (U.S. 24) and Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling east on East Bertrand Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 203 East Bertrand Street, Saint Marys KS 66536, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Great Military Road (here, next to this marker); Site of the Oregon Trail (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Indian Pay Station Museum (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Marys Vietnam Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Potawatomi Pay Station & St. Marys Mission (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Fire and Curfew Bell (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Great Military Road (approx. 5.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Marys.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, July 1, 2010

2. St. Mary's Marker

St. Mary's Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, July 1, 2010

3. St. Mary's Memorial

To the Sons of St. Mary's College who served their Country in THE WORLD WAR, The Alumni have built this Memorial.

Pottawatomie Agency building (Indian Pay Station) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, July 1, 2010

4. Pottawatomie Agency building (Indian Pay Station)

Located on the grounds of the St. Mary's Historical Society museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,394 times since then and 120 times this year. Last updated on September 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 23, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.