National Register of Historic Places listings in Cowley County, Kansas facts for kids

A map showing where Cowley County is in Kansas.

Have you ever wondered about the oldest and most important buildings or places in your area? In Cowley County, Kansas, there's a special list of these historic spots! It's called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect and celebrate places that are important to the history of Kansas and the United States.

This article will tell you about the cool historic buildings and sites in Cowley County that are on this special list. There are 24 places currently listed, and two more were once on the list but have since been removed. You can even see some of these places on a map if their exact location is shared!

Cool Historic Places in Cowley County

Here are some of the interesting places in Cowley County that are recognized for their history:

Arkansas City's Historic Spots

• Arkansas City Commercial Historic District: This area includes many old buildings along Summit Street and 5th Avenue in Arkansas City. It was added to the list in 1983.

Buildings in the Arkansas City Commercial Historic District.

• Arkansas City Country Club Site: This historic site is on the eastern side of the Walnut River, near the Arkansas City Country Club in Creswell Township. It became a historic place in 1978.
• Old Arkansas City High School: Located at 300 West Central Street in Arkansas City, this old high school building was added to the list in 1974. Today, it's used by Cowley Community College.

The Old Arkansas City High School building.

• Pilgrim Congregational Church: This church, found at 101 North Third Street in Arkansas City, joined the list in 2005.

The Pilgrim Congregational Church in Arkansas City.

Historic Bridges and Structures

• Bucher Bridge: This bridge is located off U.S. Route 77 near Rock. It was built in 1905 by Walter Sharp and is made of solid concrete. The bridge is 44 feet long and 13 feet wide, crossing Eight Mile Creek. It was added to the list in 1985.

The historic Bucher Bridge.

• East Badger Creek Culvert: You can find this culvert on 182nd Road, about 0.3 miles east of 131st Road, near Winfield. It was recognized in 2015.

The East Badger Creek Culvert.

• Esch's Spur Bridge: This bridge is about 3 miles south and 3 miles west of Dexter. It became a historic site in 1985.

Esch's Spur Bridge.

• Silver Creek Bridge: Located east of Winfield, this bridge was added to the list in 1987.

The Silver Creek Bridge.

• Strother Field Tetrahedron Wind Indicator: This unique structure is at 22215 Tupper Street at Strother Field, near Winfield. It was listed in 2015.

Historic Homes and Buildings in Winfield

• W. H. Coffin House: This house at 421 East 11th Avenue in Winfield was built in 1892. It's a great example of the Queen Anne style, which was popular in the late 1800s. It joined the list in 2003.

The W. H. Coffin House.

• Cowley County National Bank Building: Located at 820-822 Main Street in Winfield, this building was finished in 1886. It was first a bank called Farmers' Bank, then the Cowley County National Bank. It was designed in the Second Empire style by local architects. It became historic in 1983.

The Cowley County National Bank Building.

• Grace Methodist Episcopal Church: This church at 320 College Street in Winfield was added to the list in 2005.

Grace Methodist Episcopal Church.

• W. P. Hackney House: This three-story limestone house at 417 East 10th Street in Winfield was completed in 1886. It's an example of Vernacular architecture, which means it was built using local styles and materials. It was the home of W. P. Hackney, a well-known lawyer and politician. It became historic in 1973.

The W. P. Hackney House.

• Pettit Cleaners Building: You can find this building at 114 East 8th Avenue in Winfield. It was added to the list in 2005.

The Pettit Cleaners Building.

• Wilmer House: This house at 1310 East 9th Avenue in Winfield was listed in 2008.

The Wilmer House.

• Winfield National Bank Building: Located at 901 Main Street in Winfield, this building was added to the list in 2012.

The Winfield National Bank Building.

• Winfield Public Carnegie Library: This library at 1001 Millington Street in Winfield became historic in 1988.

The Winfield Public Carnegie Library.

St. John's College Buildings

Several buildings from the former St. John's College (Kansas) campus in Winfield are on the list:

• St. John's Lutheran College-Baden Hall: This hall is at Seventh Avenue and College Street. It was listed in 2011.

Baden Hall at St. John's Lutheran College.

• St. John's Lutheran College Girls Dormitory: Located at 6th Avenue and Gary Street, this dormitory was added to the list in 2002.

The Girls Dormitory at St. John's Lutheran College.

• West Dormitory-St. John's College: Also known as Rehwinkel Hall, this building at 1415 East Sixth Avenue was completed in 1916. It was listed in 1991.

The West Dormitory (Rehwinkel Hall) at St. John's College.

Other Notable Places

• Magnolia Ranch: This ranch is about 10 miles southeast of Winfield on U.S. Route 77. It was added to the list in 1973.
• Weigle Barn: This barn is located at 14097 189th Road near Burden. It was recognized in 2016.

Places That Were Once Listed

Sometimes, a place might be removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This can happen if the building is changed too much, or if it's no longer standing. Here are two places in Cowley County that were once on the list:

• Gladstone Hotel: This hotel was on North Summit Street in Arkansas City. It was listed in 1983 but removed in 2004.
• George W. Yount Barn: This barn was about 1 mile east of U.S. Route 77 and 2.5 miles north of Winfield. It was listed in 1997 but removed in 2015.

The George W. Yount Barn.