National Register of Historic Places listings in Rice County, Kansas facts for kids
Welcome to Rice County, Kansas! Did you know that this county is home to many special places that are part of America's history? These places are listed on something called the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a special club for buildings, sites, and areas that are important to our country's past.
This article will tell you about the cool historic spots in Rice County. There are 15 places currently on this list, including one super important one called a National Historic Landmark. We'll also mention a couple of places that used to be on the list. Getting on this list helps protect these places so future generations can learn from them!
Exploring Rice County's Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the United States government's historic places. It includes districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are considered worthy of preservation. When a place is added to the National Register, it means it has a special story to tell about our history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.
What Makes a Place Historic?
A place can be historic for many reasons! Maybe it's where an important event happened, or it was home to a famous person. Sometimes, it's a great example of a certain type of building style, or it holds clues about ancient cultures. For example, some sites in Rice County are important because they show us how people lived thousands of years ago!
Special Places in Rice County
Let's take a look at some of the amazing historic places you can find in Rice County:
Ancient Sites and Petroglyphs
- Archeological Site Number 14RC10: This site is near Lyons and is famous for its petroglyphs. Petroglyphs are ancient drawings or carvings made on rocks by early people. This site might be connected to another very important ancient area nearby, the Tobias-Thompson Complex.
- Archeological Site Number 14RC11: This is another important archaeological site near Little River. It's a protected area that helps scientists learn about the past.
- Malone Archeological Site: Located west of Lyons, this site on the eastern side of Cow Creek is another key spot for understanding the history of early inhabitants in the area.
- Saxman Site: Found south of Saxman on Cow Creek, this archaeological site also provides valuable information about the ancient cultures that once lived here.
- Tobias-Thompson Complex: This site near Geneseo is so important that it's a National Historic Landmark! This means it's one of the most significant historic places in the entire country. It's a large archaeological site that tells us a lot about the Great Bend aspect of the Wichita people, who lived in this area long ago.
Along the Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a famous trade route that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the 19th century. Several parts of this historic trail run through Rice County:
- Little Arkansas River Crossing: This spot near Windom was an important crossing point on the Santa Fe Trail. Imagine wagons and travelers making their way across the river here!
- Santa Fe Trail-Rice County Trail Segments: These are specific parts of the old trail near Chase that have been preserved. They help us see what the trail looked like and how it wound through the landscape.
- Santa Fe Trail-Rice County Segment 2: Another preserved section of the Santa Fe Trail, this one is located near Little River.
- Santa Fe Trail-Rice County Segment 3: This is yet another protected part of the historic Santa Fe Trail, found near Windom.
- Station Little Arkansas: Located south of Windom, this was likely a stop or station along the Santa Fe Trail, where travelers might have rested or resupplied.
Historic Buildings
Rice County also has some beautiful and important buildings on the National Register:
- Cooper Hall: This building in Sterling is a historic landmark. It's a great example of the architecture from when it was built.
- Lyons High School: The old Lyons High School building is recognized for its historical importance, perhaps for its design or its role in the community's education.
- Rice County Courthouse: Located in Lyons, this courthouse is where many important decisions for the county have been made over the years. Its architecture often reflects the pride and history of the community.
- Shay Building: This building in Sterling is another example of historic architecture in the county.
- Sterling Free Public Carnegie Library: This library in Sterling is a "Carnegie Library," meaning it was built with money donated by famous businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. These libraries were important for bringing education and books to communities across America.
Former Listings
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 is unfortunately destroyed.
- Charles K. Beckett House: This house in Sterling was once on the National Register but was later removed.
