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

Old Runnymede

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2012

1. Old Runnymede Marker

Inscription. Two miles northeast of here, in 1890, stood a typical English village. Curving driveways led to English-style houses set among rows of clipped hedges. Nearby were polo grounds, a steeplechase course, a race track, tennis courts, and a football field. Red-coated hunters rode to hounds across the buffalo grass prairie. Farms and orchards were modeled after English estates and on the townsite a three-story hotel and other businesses were established. The promoter of all this British activity was an Irishman who persuaded wealthy families to send sons to the colony to learn American farming methods. In practice, Runnymede strongly resembled a modern dude ranch. Although at one time, a hundred young Englishmen lived in the settlement, a number of whom owned estates, it was a failure as a colony. When hard times came old Runnymede collapsed and most of its remittance men returned to England. Today wheat fields cover the townsite.

Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 66.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

it is included in the Kansas Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 37° 21.38′ N, 97° 55.881′ W. Marker is near Harper, Kansas, in Harper County. It is at the intersection of State Highway 2 and NE 140th Road, on the right when traveling north on State Highway 2. Marker is at a roadside pullout near NE 60th Road, about six miles northeast of Harper. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Harper KS 67058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas. It is also in the American Midwest,

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 New Spain

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jeff Long Post No. 104 (approx. 7 miles away); The Ole Harper Fountain (approx. 7.1 miles away); Old Runnymede Church (approx. 7.2 miles away); U.S. (Army) Sgt. Willsun Marcus Wayne Mock

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2012

2. Old Runnymede Marker

Looking southwest, with intersection of Kansas Route 2 and NE 140th Road at right distance

(approx. 7.4 miles away); City of Norwich Fire Bell (approx. 8.3 miles away); Mrs. Susanna Madora Salter (approx. 11 miles away); Carnegie Library (approx. 15.1 miles away).

Also see . . . The Runnymede Hotel in Kansas. (Submitted on January 19, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,588 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 19, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.