About Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is a city in the state of Kansas, which also serves as the county seat for the Douglas County. The City of Lawrence is located in the northeast region of the state, in between the Kansas River and the Wakarusa River. According to a 2017 estimate, Lawrence has a population of more than 96,800. The City of Lawrence is a college town, and boasts of the University of Kansas at Lawrence and the Haskell Indian Nations University. This city in Kansas was established by the New England Emigrant Aid Company, and was named in honor of Amos Lawrence. Lawrence was a Republican abolitionist who provided financial aid and support for the new settlement. The City of Lawrence was integral in the Bleeding Kansas period, and was the site for the Wakarusa War and the Sack of Lawrence. Over the course of the United States Civil War, it as well became the site for the Lawrence Massacre that took place in 1865.
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The City of Lawrence is home to the South Park, which is a big public park situated in the downtown area. South Park originally comprised of 4 separate parks that were combined to form a single large park. It was developed in the mid 19th century, and a gazebo was constructed in the year 1910. This gazebo is now made use of to host the yearly city band performance throughout the course of the summer season. Lawrence also boasts of the Watkins Museum of History, which houses exhibits from the city and the entire Douglas County in general. This museum is run by the Douglas County Historical Society, and the building was formerly the Watkins National Bank, and later on the Lawrence City Hall. This structure integrates diverse architectural styles from the specific time period it was built. The Watkins Museum of History provides a grand total of 3 different floors of traditional and computer interactive exhibits. The City of Lawrence as well boasts of an exhibit on the Bleeding Kansas epoch and the Freedom Frontier National Heritage Area. Both of which are located within the old Lawrence Public Library. Other prominent museums in this city in Kansas include the Natural History Museum, the Spencer Museum of Art, and the Robert .J. Dole Institute of Politics.
The City of Lawrence is also home to the Centennial Park that was established in 1954 as part of the city’s 100th anniversary celebrations. The Centennial Park is replete with rolling hills, a skate park, a disc golf course and a Polaris missile, which was constructed during the Cold War era. There is as well the Sesquicentennial Park that was established as part of Lawrence’s 150th anniversary celebrations. This city in Kansas also boasts of the Liberty Hall, a diminutive theatre, which showcases independent films and from time to time, live performance acts. The City of Lawrence is as well home to the Granada Theatre that was constructed in the late 1920s as a vaudeville theatre. The Granada Theatre was remodeled in the 1990s, and was eventually opened as a venue hosting live music performances and comedy acts.
Lawrence also boasts of numerous historic house associated with its early history. To begin with, there is the Robert Miller House, which was once a stop for the Underground Railroad. There is as well the John Roberts House that is locally known as the ‘Castle Tea Room,’ and was designed by the acclaimed architect John .G. Haskell in the year 1894. The John Roberts House is now made use of to host a number of formal events. The City of Lawrence is home to numerous other structures of historic import, and a big number of them are now listed in the National Register for Historic Places.
Massachusetts Street
The Massachusetts Street is situated in downtown Lawrence, within the city’s central business district. It has the distinction of been one of the most popular attractions of the City of Lawrence, and starts south of the Kansas River, before meandering south to the Haskell Indian Nations University. Its name was derived from the Massachusetts Emigrant Company, which established the city and brought in anti-slavery settlers. The buildings along Massachusetts Street are well noted for featuring diverse instances of the Neoclassical and Victorian architectural styles. These structures were constructed between the 1850s and the 1950s. A section of this area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
University of Kansas at Lawrence Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is situated within the campus of the University of Kansas at Lawrence. It is a component of this university’s Biodiversity Institute, and is dedicated to the study of diversity of life on the planet. Its galleries are housed within the historic Dyche Hall that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Natural History Museum boasts of more than 350 exhibits, the most notable of which is the ‘Panorama of North American Wildlife.’ This City of Lawrence museum is home to more than 10 million species and artifacts.
Robert .J. Dole Institute of Politics
The Robert .J. Dole Institute of Politics is a politic institution situated within the University of Kansas at Lawrence campus on the Petefish Drive. This institute was established by Robert .J. Dole, the United States Senator from Kansas, who also vied for the 1996 Presidential Elections on a Republican ticket. The Robert .J. Dole Institute of Politics was first opened in 2003, and is a 28,000 square feet facility housing Dole’s papers. It is as well a key venue for political discourses and events since it is a non-partisan establishment. Some of the most prominent speakers at this City of Lawrence institute have included former President Bill Clinton, Bob Woodward, Tom Brokaw, Bob Dole to mention just but a few. The Robert .J. Dole Institute of Politics provides tours of the facility, a number of outreach programs and can even be hired as a venue for special events.
Watkins Museum of History
The Watkins Museum of History is devoted to preserve and exhibit the rich and eventful history of the City of Lawrence and the Douglas County in general. It was founded in the year 1933, and the Douglas County Historical Society has being running it ever since 1975. This Lawrence museum is housed in the historic 1888 Watkins Land Mortgage & National Bank Building. The Watkins Museum of History showcases a permanent collection and a number of temporary collections as well. The permanent exhibit, in particular, narrates the tale of the Douglas County’s role in critical national events such as the American Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War to name just but a few. Some of the most notable temporary exhibits on show here include ‘The Early Settlement of Douglas County,’ ‘The Watkins: The Couple, the Building, the Legacy,’ and ‘More than a Game: Basketball and Community Spirit.’
Lied Center of Kansas
The Lied Center of Kansas is a performing arts venue situated within the University of Kansas at Lawrence campus. It was first opened to the general public in the early 1990s, and was a project funded by the Lied Foundation and the local community. It is named in honor of Ernst .M. and Ida .K. Lied, the parents of Ernst .F. Lied, an alumnus of the University of Kansas. Should you be on the prowl for a romantic date idea in Lawrence, the Lied Center of Kansas can be right down your alley. This performing arts center comprises of 2 performance spaces, the main auditorium and the pavilion. The first of which can seat 2,000 persons, while the second around 200 persons. The Lied Center of Kansas also offers a number of educational outreach programs that include school performances, study guides to mention but a few.