Kaw Mission facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Kaw Mission
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Kaw Mission Church in 2014
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500 N. Mission St., Council Grove, Kansas |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1851 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000323 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1971 |
The Kaw Mission is a special historic place in Council Grove, Kansas. From 1851 to 1854, it was a home, school, and church for about 30 boys from the Kaw tribe. Today, you can visit it as the Kaw Mission State Historic Site. It's managed by the Kansas Historical Society.
The state of Kansas gets its name from the Kaw people, also known as the Kansa. They lived in this area for many generations. Sadly, the U.S. government later moved the Kaw people to Indian Territory (which is now Oklahoma). They now have tribal lands there. The Kaw Mission was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
The Story of Kaw Mission
Early Days of the Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a busy trade route. It connected Missouri with Mexico. The area that is now Kansas was the western edge of American settlement. Travelers heading to Santa Fe, a Spanish town, passed through what is now Council Grove. This spot was perfect for stopping. It had water, grass, and wood.
In 1825, the U.S. government talked with the Osage tribe. They wanted permission to cross Osage lands. This agreement created the Santa Fe Trail. The meeting with the Osages also gave Council Grove its name.
How the Mission Was Built
In 1846, a treaty with the Kaw tribe changed their lands. Their territory became a 20-mile square area. This new area included present-day Council Grove. Soon, traders and government workers moved into this new location. Seth M. Hays was the first white settler in Council Grove. He built a home and trading post there in 1847. It was right along the Santa Fe Trail.
The treaty with the Kaw tribe included a special payment. The U.S. government agreed to pay $1,000 each year. This money was meant to help educate the Kaw people in their own country. In 1850, the Methodist Episcopal Church South got approval. They had been working with the Kaw tribe since 1830. The church was allowed to build a mission and school. It was finished by February 1851.
Life at the Mission School
The mission building was made of native stone. It had two stories and eight rooms. It could house up to 50 student boarders. Teachers, missionaries, and farmers also lived there. School started in May 1851. Thomas Sears Huffaker, a 24-year-old teacher, was in charge. He had worked at another school near Kansas City.
The boys at the mission learned important skills. They studied spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic. They also learned about farming. However, they did not learn other trades.
The school continued until 1854. It closed because the fees were too high. It cost $50 per student, which was a lot of money back then. The Kaw people also felt the mission's purpose was not good for their culture. So, they only sent boys who were orphans or dependents of the tribe. Girls were not allowed to attend the mission school.
Changes for the Kaw People
In 1859, the Kaw land was made even smaller. It became a 9- by 14-mile area. In the 1870s, the Kaw tribe gave up their remaining lands. They moved to a reservation in what is now Oklahoma.
Thomas Huffaker, the former teacher, bought the mission lands in 1865. He owned them for 14 years. Later, in 1926, his son, Carl I. Huffaker, bought the part with the mission building.
In 1951, the Kansas state government decided to buy the mission property. Today, the Kansas Historical Society takes care of the mission. It helps people learn about the Kaw tribe and the mission's history.
