First Territorial Capitol of Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Territorial Capitol
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First Territorial Capitol at Fort Riley
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Junction City, Kansas |
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| Area | 2.8 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000249 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1970 |
The First Territorial Capitol of Kansas is the only building left from the old town of Pawnee, Kansas. This building was the capital of the Kansas Territory for just five days. After that, the capital moved to today's Lecompton, Kansas. The town of Pawnee then became part of Fort Riley. In 1855, the first elected Territorial Legislature met here. The building later fell apart, but it was fixed up in 1928. Today, it is a history museum run by the Kansas Historical Society.
Contents
Where is the Capitol Building Located?
The capitol building is in the Kaw valley in northeastern Kansas. It sits about 100 yards north of the Kansas River. It used to be on the edge of Fort Riley, but now it is inside the base. In 1928, the War Department gave a 2.8-acre site to the Kansas Historical Society. This land is separated from the river by many trees. Union Pacific Railroad tracks run close to the building's north side.
How Was the Capitol Built?
About thirty workers built the capitol under Warren Beckworth's lead. It was mostly finished in 1855. The building's base is about 40 by 80 feet. It has two stories. Both floors are set up the same way, like a big meeting hall. There are support columns in the middle. A stairway on the south side connects the floors.
The building's base and walls are made of local limestone. There is a stone chimney on each short side. The ceilings show the wooden beams that hold them up. The doors are made of wood with stone steps. Window sills are also cut stone. People probably used hanging lanterns for light. During its 1927 repair, new wood was used. Workers chipped it to make it look like it was cut by hand. They used 2-inch thick planks for the floors. These were held down with iron nails. Doors and windows had hand-made metal parts. The roof was covered with 3-foot tiles. These tiles looked like shakes.
A Brief History of the Capitol
The First Legislature Meets
The first group of lawmakers met in the Pawnee capitol for only five days. This was from July 2 to July 6, 1855. They did not like the building's location or its condition. They had already decided to move to Shawnee Mission. This new spot was closer to the people in Missouri who had illegally voted for most of them.
The council had thirteen members and met on the second floor. The house had 26 members and met on the first floor. Out of 39 lawmakers, only eight wanted Kansas to be a free state. The other 31 were from the South. Their ages ranged from 23 to 55.
The "Bogus Legislature"
Their first act was to remove almost all the free-state lawmakers. They said the March election results were not valid. Instead, they used a special election from May. This election replaced the free-state members with people who supported slavery. This is why they were called the "Bogus Legislature."
On July 3, Governor Andrew Reeder gave a speech. During his speech, the only free-state lawmaker left stood up. He spoke out against the governor and his own colleagues. Charles M. Harger said that during the debates, people used phrases like "justice for all" and "Southern rights." They also talked about "The flag and the Constitution." For the first time, people asked for "Kansas, the brightest star of all."
On July 4, the lawmakers passed a bill to move to Shawnee Mission. They quickly voted to overrule the governor's veto. After their meeting on July 6, they packed their things. They rode horses and wagons to the new site. The governor had to follow them.
The Capitol Building's Early Days
Governor Reeder announced in April 1855 that the lawmakers would meet in Pawnee. After this, building work quickly started in the town, including on the capitol. But the building was not finished by the meeting date. Floorboards were not nailed down. Windows and doors were missing. The roof was not done. There was even a hole in the outside wall on the second floor. The builders worked day and night, even on Sunday, to finish the project. But this made the lawmakers even more upset. Pawnee was a town that respected the Sabbath. One lawmaker said, "No good law could ever be enacted within the four walls that had witnessed such desecration."
What Else Was the Building Used For?
After the lawmakers left, curious townspeople found the inside messy. Later, one person lived on the second floor. When Pawnee was ordered to be destroyed and its land given back to Fort Riley, the first floor became a supply department. Most of the town's buildings were torn down. But the old capitol building was saved. Over time, it was used for many different things.
In September 1855, it was a place to vote in another election. This election was also unfair because Missourians charged $2 to vote. The Army used it as a storage building. It also had a carpentry shop. After a tenant moved out, it was used as a club for single men. It was also a place for ministers to work.
How the Capitol Was Restored
After Pawnee was gone, the first capitol building was forgotten. In 1877, a windstorm tore off the roof. The inside was badly damaged. People started talking about saving the building around 1900. In 1907, Col. Samuel F. Woolard from Wichita began raising money to fix it. He later became the president of the Kansas Historical Society. To help with the repair, they used the memories of John Martin from Alabama. He had been a clerk for the first legislature.
By 1908, people had given $499.50 by paying $5 each. This allowed for a lot of repair work. Stones in the walls were replaced. Windows and doors were made straight again. Cracks were filled with cement. Cement plaster covered the walls after they were made stronger with iron. The Union Pacific Railroad, which owned some of the land, was interested in saving the building. The railroad company was created by the first legislature. They had started it as the Leavenworth, Pawnee & Western railroad. This railroad was meant to build a line across Kansas.
In 1926, Governor Ben Paulen asked the legislature to help. State Senator G. W. Schmidt introduced a bill to give $1,000 for this cause. But just replacing the roof cost $2,000. Union Pacific gave over $20,000 for the whole project. Old benches, chairs, desks, and stoves were bought to put inside. The outside grounds were cleaned up. A water pipe was put in, and stone and gravel paths were made. In 1927, it was named a National Historic Place. On August 1, 1928, the site was officially opened.
A Grand Celebration
Union Pacific President Carl R. Gray wanted to officially give the site to the State of Kansas. The company planned and paid for a big party. Ten thousand people came. Special trains brought people to the site. One train had many old items to see. Fort Riley soldiers performed military ceremonies and played music. Native Americans did tribal dances.
A flag was raised over the capitol. This flag had flown over the Memorial Building in Topeka at the end of World War I. Governor Paulen received a 20-gun salute. He also reviewed National Guard troops. Barbecue was served to everyone.
A pretend legislative meeting was held. State House Speaker D. M. Hamilton called it together. All the lawmakers wore clothes from the 1850s. Governor Paulen read Governor Reeder's message to start the meeting. During the meeting, a man in costume stood up. He gave a fiery speech, saying he was from Missouri and demanded a seat. The other actors threatened him. But then, a fake Indian attack outside the building distracted everyone.
The official opening ceremony finished the events. Important people at the celebration included:
- Governor and Mrs. Paulen
- Lieutenant Governor D. A. N. Chase
- Former Kansas Governor Willis J. Bailey
- U.S. Senator Charles Curtis
- U.S. Senator Arthur Capper
- Union Pacific President Gray, from Omaha, Nebraska
By 1958, trees planted near the building's entrances had grown too big. They blocked the doorways. These trees were removed. In 1961, state lawmakers met for one day in the building. This was part of the statehood centennial celebrations.
Visiting the Museum
The capitol became a history museum in 1928. On August 1, it was officially opened with a speech by Union Pacific lawyer Nelson H. Loomis. He said that those gathered there were dedicating the building. It was a memorial to the brave people who built the state and its railroads. They worked hard so their children could enjoy Kansas.
The First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site has exhibits about the Kansas Territory. It also shows how people traveled by rail and river in the area. You can also learn about the history of Pawnee. Because the museum is on an active U.S. Army base, there are rules for visitors. For example, you need to show photo identification.
