When American explorers traveled what would become Kansas, they labeled the vast land as the “Great American Desert.” The first permanent settlement of White Americans in Kansas was Fort Leavenworth, founded in 1827. However, it was not until 1852 that the creation of the Kansas Territory began. By the opening of the Territory in 1854, settlers were steadily streaming into the area. Given the area’s reputation, the first settlers were surprised to find it well suited for farming and settlement.
This exhibit seeks to give a glimpse into what life looked like in the 1800s throughout Kansas. The contrast between the solitude of rural life and the boom of city life shows just how differently lives played out in the nineteenth century. However, regardless of class status or location, there were opportunities all around. The glimpse into the past shown in this exhibit demonstrates that modern living mirrors life in the 1800s in many ways. Massachusetts Street is still a hub for business and gathering while rural Kansas still holds prime farmland.
Tiffany McIntosh, University of Oklahoma Master of Museum Studies Student, Outreach Manager at the Watkins Museum of History, and former Public Services Administrative Associate at the Spencer Research Library.
