Grinter Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grinter Place
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1420 South 78th Street, Muncie, Kansas |
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| Built | 1857 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Website | http://www.kshs.org/p/grinter-place/19564 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000338 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1971 |
Grinter Place is a special historic house located in Kansas City, Kansas. It sits high above the Kansas River in an area called Muncie. This house is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
A Look Back at Grinter Place
Who Lived Here?
The Grinter Place house was built in 1857 by a man named Moses Grinter. He lived there with his wife, whose Native American name was "Windagamen." This name meant "Sweetness." She was part of the Lenape (also known as Delaware) tribe.
When Kansas became a state, Moses Grinter's wife was one of about 25 Delaware women who became citizens of the United States. Moses and Windagamen lived in this house for many years. Moses passed away in 1878, and Windagamen lived until 1905.
The Grinter Ferry and Trading Post
Long before the house was built, around 1831, Moses Grinter started a ferry service on the Kansas River. This ferry was very important! It helped people cross the river at a spot known as the Delaware Crossing. This crossing was also called the "Military Crossing" or "the Secondine."
Many different people used Grinter's Ferry. Traders, people moving goods, and soldiers traveled between Fort Leavenworth and Fort Scott. Others used the crossing on their way to Santa Fe.
Moses Grinter also ran a trading post. He first had it near the ferry, and later moved it into his home. This trading post operated between 1855 and 1860. The Grinter Place house is the oldest house still standing in Wyandotte County. The area around Grinter Place was also home to the very first post office in Kansas that was not part of a military fort.
The House Today
The Grinter family owned the house until 1950. After that, it became a restaurant that served chicken dinners until the mid-1960s.
In 1971, the state of Kansas bought the property. Since then, the Kansas Historical Society has taken care of it. Today, it is known as the Grinter Place State Historic Site. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 25, 1971.
Other Important Activities in the Area
Native American Tribes and Settlements
The area around Grinter Place has a rich history with several Native American tribes. In the 1830s, tribes from the Eastern United States were moved to this region. These included the Delaware tribe, the Wyandot tribe, the Munsee tribe, and the Shawnee tribe.
Important places for the Delaware tribe were located near Grinter Place. These included their agency, a smithy (where metal was worked), and Baptist and Methodist missions.
Railways and Changes
In the 1860s, new developments came to the area. Between 1863 and 1864, the Union Pacific Eastern Division built a railway. This railway ran through the area, between the Grinter house and the Kaw River. By 1869, the Union Pacific had built even more tracks, extending all the way to the western border of Kansas.
By the 1870s, many of the Eastern United States tribes who had been living in this area were moved again. They were relocated further south, to what is now the state of Oklahoma.
Gallery
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The Grinter House as it looked in 1857.
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Another view of the Grinter House from 1857.
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A view of "The Secondine" looking towards the east.
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The "Military Crossing" on the Kaw River, where Grinter's Ferry operated.
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The Kaw River seen from Grinter Place, looking west.
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The tombstone of Moses and Annie Grinter, located a short distance behind Grinter Place.
