History of Lawrence, Kansas, USA

1856 - May 21 - Lawrence Kansas captured, sacked by pro-slavery forces
The Sacking of Lawrence occurred on May 21, 1856, when pro-slavery activists attacked and ransacked the town of Lawrence, Kansas, which had been founded by anti-slavery settlers to help ensure that Kansas would become a "free state". The incident made worse the guerrilla war in Kansas Territory that became known as Bleeding Kansas.
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1858 - Fire Station No. 4 in Lawrence, originally a stone barn constructed in 1858, was a station site on the Underground Railroad.

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1860 - July 9 - A hot blast of air in the middle of a sweltering summer pushed the mercury up to 115 degrees at Fort Scott and Lawrence, KS.

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1863 - August 21 - Raid at Lawrence KS by William Quantrill

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1886 - July 24 - Rain fell at Lawrence, KS, for the first time in four weeks. Rain fell over much of the state of Kansas that day relieving a severe drought which began in May. The very dry weather ruined crops in Kansas.

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1895 - Lawrence
Lawrence, a handsome city, the capital of Douglas co., Kansas, is situated on the S. bank of the Kansas River, here crossed by a bridge, 38 miles W. by S. of Kansas City, 29 miles E. by S. of Topeka, and 34 miles S.S.W. of Leaven worth. It is on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, the St. Louis, Lawrence & Western Railroad, and the Kansas Midland Railroad, and is the N. terminus of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad. A branch of the Kansas Pacific Railroad extends hence to Leavenworth. It is the seat of the University of Kansas (non-sectarian and open to both sexes), which was organized in 1864, and which has 13 instructors and about 100 students. Lawrence contains a court-house, a conservatory of music, a high school, 2 or 3 national banks, a state bank, a savings-bank, a commercial college, 4 flouring-mills, a foundry, and manufactures of furniture, cigars, wooden-ware, sash, and blinds. The state university is situated on Mount Oread, which commands a beautiful view. Three... Read MORE...

1911 - Two Killed at Lawrence.
Lawrence, Kan., April 13. - Two people were killed, scores of houses destroyed and the streets piled high with debris by a tornado which struck Lawrence at 8 o'clock tonight. Only a rough estimate of the damage can he made tonight, but the loss is conservatively placed at $150,000. The known dead are Mrs. Joe Sullivan, 55 years old, and Laura Childs, a colored woman employed on the farm of Claude Doubleday, two miles west of this place. Four more deaths have been reported, but the rumors can not be confirmed tonight. A dozen more were more or less seriously injured.
The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
April 13, 1911

1916
Lawrence, a city, the capital of Douglas co., Kan., is situated on the S. bank of the Kansas River, 29 miles E. by S. of Topeka, on the Union Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rs. It is the seat of the University of Kansas (non-sectarian), which was organized in 1864 and had, in 1900-01, 1151 students. Lawrence has manufactures of paper, carriages and horse-collars, iron and brass, brick and tile, flour, canned goods, etc. It has also large nurseries. The state university is situated on Mount Oread, which commands a beautiful view. The Haskell Institute for the instruction of the Indians is also located here. Lawrence was founded in 1854 by the Massachusetts Aid Society and was settled by the friends of free labor. Its citizens opposed the pro-slavery party in several violent contests. On Aug. 21, 1863, this place was surprised by Quantrell and a band of guerillas, who massacred about 125 persons and burned about 75 dwellings and many other buildings. Pop. in 1880, 8510;... Read MORE...

2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Lawrence:
Massachusetts Street (Mass Street): Start your journey on Mass Street, the heart of downtown Lawrence. It's a bustling area with a variety of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and coffee shops. It's a great place for a leisurely stroll and some window shopping.

Lawrence Arts Center: If you're into the arts, don't miss the Lawrence Arts Center. They have galleries featuring local and national artists, as well as classes and workshops for those looking to get creative.

The University of Kansas (KU) Campus: Lawrence is home to the University of Kansas, and the campus is beautiful. Check out the Natural History Museum, the Spencer Museum of Art, and take a walk down the Campanile for a stunning view of the area.

Clinton Lake: For outdoor enthusiasts, Clinton Lake is a must-visit. You can enjoy activities like hiking, fishing, boating, and picnicking. The lake offers a serene escape from the city.

Watkins Museum of History: Dive into Lawrence's rich history at the Watkins Museum.... Read MORE...