The Leavenworth Historical Museum Association
History

The Leavenworth Historical Museum Association was organized as a 501C(3) tax-exempt, non-profit, Kansas Corporation on May 20, 1988. It was started to provide an educational and entertaining presentation of the history of Leavenworth - the first City of Kansas.

Mr. Richard Dudley, retired military, was the organizing president who started with a small group of helpers, Bernard & Betty Phillips, Del & Audrey Sanders, Sharon Reeder, Eleanor Vornholt and others.

They discussed the fact that Leavenworth has a Museum - a Victorian home located on 5th Avenue donated by the Carroll family, former bankers in early Leavenworth. There was some thought about a combined organization. Mr. Dudley called a meeting of the Leavenworth County Historical Society, sponsor of the Victorian home to discuss a merger. The Board of Directors of the Historical Society voted NOT to be associated with the new endeavor - only one vote in favor of any combined effort.

Once this decision was made known the Museum group applied for tax exempt status and started planning to locate a building to house any collections available. Members to help with the project was important to success. Charter memberships were offered at $100 each per person and/or a husband and wife membership listed as one membership also $100.

Themes for the museum were discussed:

Native Americans, prehistoric Indians, Hopewells, Kanza, Immigrant Indians, Delawares, Wyandots, and others who had roamed the area.

Early American Influence: French trading in the area, 1720-1760, Fort DeCavignal, Traders and trappers. 1800-1850; Chateau Explorers: Lewis & Clark.

Leavenworth persons of fame born and raised here 1854 - 1890; 1890 to present: Buffalo Bill, Carrie Nation, Susan Anthony and others.

Leavenworth Events: President Lincoln's visit to Leavenworth, Fairs, Natural Disasters, etc.

Leavenworth Organizations: Militia, Knights of Columbus, Masons, etc.

The Museum would reveal interesting information about Leavenworth as the manufacturing center of the West with unlimited advantages and resources. To explain: Leavenworth is located in the center of the United States. It had four coal mines in operation, plentiful water, low taxes, low property assessment on business property, low freight rates and gas available from the mines.

There were so many industries here that it is hard to imagine how busy it might have been here in the 1800's. There were three wagon factories, two monument works, a stove factory, Missouri Valley Bridge Builders, Missouri Valley Ship Builders, Great Western Manufacturing Company manufacturing farm machinery and milling equipment, four furniture factories: Davis, Abernathy, Helmers & Klemp, three flour mills and printing plant. In addition there were the unique factories: sugar factory, soap factory, pickle processing factory, broom manufacturing factory, washing machine manufacturer, many breweries and wine making operations.

The famous freight haulers, Russell, Majors and Waddell started their business here and maintained a very large holding area for their animals, wagons and equipment located in an area near the present site of the U.S. Federal Penitentiary. They organized a stage coach line and pony express delivery to the west coast. Stage coaches left every other day on the ten day trip, 1200 miles. They also hauled freight south and west. Each wagon was drawn by six yoke or twelve oxen, hauling 5 to 6,000 pounds of freight. Later two or three wagons were lashed together and pulled with one team. Twenty-five wagons formed a train. The Government paid the company $400,000 one year for mail delivery.

The World's largest manufacturer of amusement equipment, C. W. Parker Company, employing over 200 persons moved to Leavenworth from Abilene, Kansas, locating on South 4th Street. The C. W. Parker family home was located on the southwest corner of 4th and Pine Streets. From the time the Parker Carousel operation was mentioned, it was hoped that possibly a Parker Carousel could be located and returned to Leavenworth for the museum. Later a carousel committee was formed and Mrs. Richie Turpin volunteered to head the committee.