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Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission State Historic Site facts for kids
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Iowa, Sac, and Fox Presbyterian Mission
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1737 Elgin Rd., near Highland, Kansas |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1846 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000248 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1970 |
The Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission State Historic Site, also known as the Highland Presbyterian Mission, is a special place in Kansas. It used to be a school and church for children from the Iowa people and Sac & Fox tribes between 1845 and 1863.
The main building, located near Highland, Kansas, is very old and important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This historic site served as a museum from 1996 to 2008 and reopened its doors in 2022.
Contents
The Mission Building
The mission building is a large, three-story structure made of stone and brick. It has a tall bell tower on top, reaching about 52 feet (16 meters) high. The building itself is about 106 feet (32 meters) long and 37 feet (11 meters) wide.
It was built in 1846 to replace an older, smaller building. This new structure served as both a church and a school for the Native American children in the area. Its historical importance led to it being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
History of the Mission
Early Beginnings (1836-1843)
In 1836, William Clark (who was in charge of Indian affairs) made a deal with the Iowa people and the Sac & Fox Nation. The tribes gave up their land in Missouri for $7,500. In return, the government promised to build five homes and provide supplies.
When the tribes moved to their new lands, missionaries saw a chance to share their Christian beliefs. They decided to set up a mission, which they called "The Ioway and Sac Mission."
A Presbyterian mission was started in 1837. It was about 2 miles (3.2 km) from where Highland, Kansas is today. Samuel M. Irvin and his wife began the mission, and later, Reverend William Hamilton joined them.
The Presbyterian Board of Missions sent Irvin to the Highland area. Their goal was to teach the Iowa and Sac & Fox people how to farm and raise animals. These tribes were traditionally hunters. Since teaching adults was difficult, the mission decided to focus on educating younger children instead.
Building the Permanent Structure
The first mission building was a simple one-story log cabin. But in 1844, the Presbyterian board approved a permanent structure. This new building was finished by July 1846.
It was a large, three-story building with a bell tower. The total height was 52 feet (16 meters). The building was 107 feet (33 meters) long and 37 feet (11 meters) wide. It was made from limestone and bricks that were made right there on the site. Inside, there were 32 rooms, including a dining hall and a chapel.
Learning and Printing at the Mission
Samuel Irvin asked the missionary board for a printing press. He wanted to print books and religious texts in the Iowa language. The press was approved and arrived at the mission in 1843.
Lessons at the mission were taught in both English and the Iowa language. Students learned spelling, math, and geography. There was also a strong focus on practical skills like farming and homemaking.
Irvin and Hamilton printed several books in the Iowa language. These included An Elementary Book of the Ioway Language and a religious book called Original Hymns in the Ioway Language. To do this, they had to create a special writing system (Syllabary) for the Iowa language.
They even included a note in their books. It explained that any mistakes were because they were new to printing and had little help. Nine different books were printed at the mission. This was only the second printing press in the entire state of Kansas!
Daily Life and Challenges
The mission's main goal was to help Native Americans become self-sufficient farmers with Christian beliefs. On average, about 40 students lived at the mission.
A typical day started early, at 5 AM. Students had 6 hours of school starting at 9 AM. All other non-school hours were spent working under Irvin's guidance. Girls were taught homemaking and housekeeping skills by Mrs. Eliza Irvin.
From the early 1840s until 1865, the Oregon Trail was very active. The mission was a popular stop because of its location on the trail. The tribes even charged a toll for travelers to cross their bridge. However, travelers also brought diseases like smallpox and cholera. These diseases caused serious outbreaks, leading many tribes to move away from the mission.
Closure and Later Uses
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 further reduced the size of Indian reservations. This made it harder for tribal children to attend the mission school. Because of these challenges, the mission closed in 1863. In 1856, the mission had 44 students.
After closing as a mission, the building became an orphanage from 1863 to 1866. It then sat empty for two years. From 1868, part of the western side of the building was taken down to create a dormitory. This left only about 40 percent of the original structure.
The Northeast Kansas Historical Society decided to save the remaining part of the building. It had been used as a private home from 1905 to 1937. In 1941, the state of Kansas bought the property. It was officially declared a state historical site in 1963. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
In 1996, the museum was renovated and reopened. It displayed Native American arts until it closed again in 2008.
In 2021, the state gave control of the property to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas. It is now part of the Ioway Tribal National Park. The museum reopened in 2022.
The site is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Highland on 240th Road, then 0.2 miles (0.32 km) north on Elgin Road.