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Please join us for a Humanities Kansas Presentation - "Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas" presented by Mr. Leo Oliva on JUNE 22, 2024 at 5:30pm at the museum (716 N.1190 Rd. Lawrence, KS). This program is a free event open to the public.
Few industries dominated the economy of the nation in the 19th century more than the railroad. Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs, and fed beef markets in the East. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time. Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, and few survived without it. Yet the advancement of the railroad industry came at a significant cost to the Plains Indians who were forcibly displaced by this westward expansion. This presentation examines the complicated legacy of railroads and the impact on native peoples who called Kansas home.
The WRVHM 2024 featured exhibit, Community Spotlight: Twin Mound, New & Old Belvoir, shares the history and stories of these 3 communities in rural western Douglas Co. We have invited Mr. Oliva to speak about railroads in Kansas because the Wakarusa Valley felt the impact of the railroads and it forever shaped a community. In 1872, the original town of Belvoir relocated 2 1/2 miles northeast to a site along the Wakarusa River and the new Wakarusa Valley Railroad tracks. The town’s businesses and quite a few residents moved to reap the benefits of being a railroad town, even though the railroad only operated for 17 years. The relocated town was known as New Belvoir.
Leo Oliva is a historian with a research focus on 19th-century Kansas. He is the author of “Soldiers on the Santa Fe Trail,” six books for the Kansas Fort Series, and a founding member of the Santa Fe Trail Association and Fort Larned Old Guard.
“Railroads are the key to understanding the development of Kansas,” said Oliva.
“Railroaded: The Industry that Shaped Kansas” is part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau, featuring humanities-based presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
For more information about “Railroaded: The Industry that Shaped Kansas” contact the Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum at 785-783-4420 or visit wakarusamuseum.org
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit leading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
716 N 1190 Rd, Lawrence, KS, United States, Kansas 66047