Historical Markers and War Memorials in Atchison County, Kansas
Atchison is the county seat for Atchison County
Adjacent to Atchison County, Kansas
Brown County(10) ► Doniphan County(33) ► Jackson County(10) ► Jefferson County(15) ► Leavenworth County(106) ► Buchanan County, Missouri(59) ► Platte County, Missouri(72) ►
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Independence Creek was noted as the main settlement of the Kanza Tribe as far back as 1673. By the time French explorer Etienne Veniard de Bourgmont arrived in 1724 this was considered an old village and the capital of the Kanza nation.
This . . . — — Map (db m52993) HM
On River Road at Commercial Street, on the right when traveling north on River Road.
"The water we drink or the Common water of the missourie at this time, contains a half a Comm Wine Glass of ooze or mud to every pint-"
William Clark
June 21, 1804
The Missouri River of Lewis and Clark's era was wild and unpredictable. It . . . — — Map (db m44801) HM
The U.S. Army expedition led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped in this vicinity on July 4, 1804. In honor of the nation's 28th birthday, expedition members fired the swivel cannon on the bow of their keelboat once in the morning . . . — — Map (db m52994) HM
On River Road at Commercial Street, on the right when traveling north on River Road.
"…Capt. Lewis walked on Shore above this Creek and discovered a high moun from the top of which he had an extensive view, 3 paths Concentering at the moun..."
William Clark
July 4, 1804
The U.S. Army expedition led . . . — — Map (db m44812) HM
On Skyway Highway (U.S. 59) near 10th Street (U.S. 73), on the right when traveling west.
July 4, 1804
William Clark recorded in his
journal that on this date,
the Corps of Discovery
"Passed a Creek 12 yrs. wide...comeing
out of an extensive Prarie reching
within 200 yeards of the river, as this
Creek has no name, and . . . — — Map (db m44786) HM
On Santa Fe Street at Terrace Street, on the right when traveling east on Santa Fe Street.
Amelia Earhart was born July 24, 1897
in the home of her grandparents,
Alfred G. and Amelia Harres Otis.
The home was constructed circa 1860.
The Birthplace Museum is owned by
The Ninety-Nines, Inc. International Organization of Women . . . — — Map (db m44630) HM
On 2nd Street at Kansas Avenue, on the right when traveling north on 2nd Street.
Listed on the National Register on Feb. 1, 2002. It reflects the varied architectural tastes of Atchison's early residents. It contains a collection of architecturally significant building types dating from 1860 - 1928. — — Map (db m44633) HM
In honor of these
astronauts who perished
serving their country in space
on the Shuttle Columbia,
February 1, 2003
Rick D. Husband, Commander
Wiliam C. McCool, Pilot
Michael P. Anderson, Mission Specialist
David Brown, Mission . . . — — Map (db m47686) HM
On Skyway Highway (U.S. 59) 0.2 miles west of Rawlins Road, on the right when traveling west.
On July 4, 1804, Lewis and Clark exploring the new Louisiana Purchase, camped near this site. Fifty years later the town was founded by Proslavery men and named for Sen. D. R. Atchison. The Squatter Sovereign, Atchison's first newspaper, was an . . . — — Map (db m77888) HM
On Commercial Street near 9th Street, on the right when traveling west.
Let us hold in grateful memory
the Atchison County men who gave all
for God, Country and Humanity in the
World War 1917-1919
[Roll of Honored Dead]
Private Bryan Amend
Co. C., 140th Inf., 35th Div.
Died at Ft. Sill, Okla., Feb. . . . — — Map (db m44728) WM
At this site Atchison Leather Products operated a grease factory that filled a vital need to keep the world free. Before World War I the only factory producing a certain grease needed in munitions production and packing was in Italy. With the war . . . — — Map (db m44639) HM
To commemorate the birthplace
of
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railway Company in Atchison, Kansas
February 11, 1859
From this small beginning - a rail line connecting Atchison and Topeka, Kansas - a great transportation system . . . — — Map (db m44788) HM
On Commerce Street, 0.1 miles west of 2nd St, on the right when traveling east.
Text on the Front of the marker:
(picture of Concord Coach)
Butterfield's
Overland Dispatch
1865
Text on Reverse of marker:
Butterfield's
Overland Dispatch
Established 1865
by
David A. Butterfield . . . — — Map (db m99332) HM
Born in Leicester, Mass.
May 25, 1847
Died June 19, 1872
from the effect of a
railway accident.
Faithful unto death
Wisdom is the gray hair unto men
and an unspotted life is old age.
Erected by the men in the
service of the . . . — — Map (db m77749) HM
On Commercial Street at River Road, on the right when traveling east on Commercial Street.
As early as the 1600s, the Kanza (or Kaw) Indians migrated from their home east of the Mississippi River and up the Missouri River into what is now northeastern Kansas. In the 1700s, the Kanza occupied two villages on the west bank of the Missouri: . . . — — Map (db m44816) HM
On Entrance Road, 0.1 miles south of Rawlins Road, on the right when traveling south.
In memory of a soldier and statesman.
John A. Martin
Born at Brownsville, Pa. March 10, 1839.
Died at Atchison, Kas. Oct. 2, 1889.
Colonel of the 8th Kansas Volunteers, and
Brevet Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers.
Editor & . . . — — Map (db m77740) HM WM
On 5th Street at Parallel Street, on the left when traveling north on 5th Street.
To commemorate
an address given near this corner
by
Abraham Lincoln
on "The Issues of the Day" the
night of December 2, 1859
Erected October 2, 1917 — — Map (db m44652) HM
On 8th Street at Division Street, on the left when traveling north on 8th Street.
"Put the children together, leave them alone, and they will work it out."
Dave Carey, Sr. 1955, on integrating Atchison Public Schools
The Lincoln School in Atchison, Kansas began in 1921 as the school for all African-American students . . . — — Map (db m44691) HM
On Main Street at 3rd Street, on the left when traveling east on Main Street.
On September 14, 1861 the "Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Co." who were the original owners and operators of the Pony Express moved their offices from the Patee House in St. Joseph, Missouri to here at the "Massasoit House." It . . . — — Map (db m44626) HM
On U.S. 73 at Osage Road, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 73.
Near here, located in a grove of young hickory trees, was an important rallying point in 1855 and 1856 for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), then emigrating to the Rocky Mountains.
The campground, really a . . . — — Map (db m55363) HM
On Skyway Highway (U.S. 59) near 10th Street (U.S. 73), on the right when traveling west.
This stream was named by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark when they stopped at the present site of Atchison, Kansas on July 4, 1804. The following is an excerpt from Clark's logbook:
"...as this creek has no name, and this being the 4th of . . . — — Map (db m44784) HM
On River Road at Commercial Street, on the right when traveling north on River Road.
In 1804-06, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led about 40 soldiers and boatmen on an epic journey. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned this "Corps of Discovery" to find a route to the Pacific Ocean through the newly acquired . . . — — Map (db m44807) HM
Near this site the Atchison Town Company was formed in early July of 1854 under a large Cottonwood tree on the river.
The Lewis and Clark expedition rested and dined on corn July 4, 1804 near this same spot.
This new Cottonwood tree dedicated . . . — — Map (db m44635) HM
On Commercial Street at River Road, on the right when traveling east on Commercial Street.
Dedicated to the 1,177 men who gave their lives on the U.S.S. Arizona and all those who have bravely served the United States of America.
Billy Edwin Gibson of Atchison County is entombed in the U.S.S. Arizona.
Air raid! Pearl Harbor! . . . — — Map (db m44640) HM WM
On 10th Street at the railroad tracks, on the right when traveling north on 10th Street.
The backbreaking work building railroads to the West was accomplished by men, like Thomas W. Haverty from Galway, Ireland. Wielding hammers and driving spikes their labor united a country and made Atchison "The Rail Centre of Kansas" beginning with . . . — — Map (db m44634) HM
On Amelia Earhart Road (U.S. 73) at Kansas Highway 74, on the left when traveling north on Amelia Earhart Road.
Long before white men settled Kansas, traffic over the Santa Fe trail was so heavy that troops were detailed to protect it from the Indians. Fort Leavenworth, established in 1827 by Col. Henry Leavenworth, was for thirty years the chief base of . . . — — Map (db m52956) HM
