|
KANSAS, THE SOLDIER STATE
Kansas is known as a Soldier state due to the very large number
of Civil War Veterans who settled here. Almost all communities
supported a camp of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). It
was typical for those camps to sponsor or erect monuments to
honor the Civil War Soldier whether lost during the war or as a
returned Veteran. The Women's Relief Corps (W.R.C.), Ladies of
the Grand Army of the Republic (L.G.A.R.), and others also erected
memorials and monuments. Many county court house squares, City
Parks, and local cemeteries are so honored. This listing
preserves the memory of those Civil War Memorials and Monuments
located in Kansas.
|
TYPES OF MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS
Memorials may be in any of a number of styles, sizes, materials, and
dedications. They may be markers in cemeteries, pavilions, statues,
bronze tablets, cannons, drinking fountains, benches, or buildings.
Dedications may be very specific ("to those who died in the battle of
Westport") all inclusive ("to those who served their
country"), or may just be a saying ("lest we forget"). They may be
closely identified with one of the service groups ("dedicated by
Post 216, G.A.R.") or have no identification. They may be at County
Courthouses, City Parks, Cemeteries (both large and small), schools,
or almost anyplace.
This list organizes memorials into the following categories:
Primary Memorials
These memorials have a direct lineage to
the Civil War veteran. They may have been directly sponsored
or erected by the G.A.R., W.R.C., or L.G.A.R. They may have been
dedicated by others as honoring the Civil War Soldier. They
are similar to other Primary Memorials. These memorials are
of direct interest to the SUVCW.
Secondary Memorials
These memorials are not of direct Civil
War lineage but do include the Civil War Soldier by direct
reference or by providing honor to "all those who have served
our country". They honor the soldier from all wars. These
memorials, while not of direct linkage to the SUVCW, are
included here because of the honor they render to the soldiers. Also,
in some Kansas counties there have been no primary Civil War memorials located.
Listing the secondary memorials indicates that the locale has been surveyed.
Incomplete Records
These memorials may ultimately be
primary, secondary, or not related to the Civil War, but, at present, there are unresolved
questions regarding them:
- The monument closely resembles other Civil War related monuments
but there is no information on the monument itself that identifies it.
Local research about the origin and sponsor of such a monument is needed.
- A large area may not be represented. Loga, Scott, and Wichita counties have no identified memorials of either primary or secondary type.
Additional searching is required to determine that nothing has been missed.
As time permits, these questions will be resolved. If you can help
on any of these, please offer any information you may have.
Follow the Incomplete Records link for more detail.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Documentation has been found on a number of memorials that no longer exist.
While the memorial is gone, the memory lingers on.
Follow the Gone But Not Forgotten link for more detail.
|
MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS LISTINGS
Memorials can be accessed in any of four different listings:
Towns
The town closest to each monument is listed
alphabetically. When there are more than one memorials in any town,
this selection will go to the first one. The others will follow.
Counties
Kansas has 105 counties. Most of these have
multiple memorials. Selection of a county will link to the first town
in that county. The rest of the entries for that county follow.
State
A map of Kansas presents each county. Clicking
on the county will link to the listings for that county.
Live-Map
Microsoft has a wonderful mapping facility.
All memorials (Primary and Secondary) are identified
by colored pushpins on this map. Selecting an individual
pin shows a thumbnail picture, a very brief summary, and a selection
to go to the detailed listing. The map can be zoomed in so much
that, in some places like Kansas City, the individual memorial
can be identified in a birds eye view.
Note that there are entries for "Primary" and "Primary 2". These are all of the same type
but the software limits the number that can be in any single category. Thus "Primary 2" is the overflow of Primary documents.
|
SUVCW MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS PROJECT
One of the important purposes and goals of the Sons of Union Veterans
of the Civil War (SUVCW) is to honor the memory of our Civil War Veterans.
We in Kansas are fortunate to have a number of outstanding monuments,
memorials, and outdoor sculpture to serve as the focus for these remembrances.
Many of these owe their existence to the local citizens of each town,
city, or county that chose to erect a memorial. Unfortunately, neither the
G.A.R. nor the local environs maintained comprehensive records of the location
and description of their contributions.
As legal heir to the G.A.R., the preservation of Civil War memorials is one of
the most important purposes of the SUVCW. The Civil War / GAR Memorials
Cataloging Program has the goal to physically search out inspect and catalog
each and every GAR memorial that can be found. Once a GAR monument or Civil War
related memorial (of any size/design) is identified, the committee requests
the preparation and submission of a Civil War Memorials Assessment Form (CWM #61)
to record information such as location, description, physical details, condition,
environmental factors, and local contacts. This will minimize the chance of any
memorial being overlooked and more importantly, identify any professional restoration
work that may be necessary - due to the effects of nature or vandalism. With proper care,
these monuments will continue to stand in tribute to those who saved the Union during the
conflict of 1861 to 1865.
A copy of the Assessment Form is available at:
Civil War Memorials Assessment Form (CWM #61)
Memorial Documentation
Only a few of the Kansas memorials are completely identified with CWM#61 forms.
These are listed below. It is the plan to extend this list to include all of the
major memorials that have been found. Links are provided to the individual description
of the monument, the submitted CWM#61 form and, where available, the nomination form
for Listing in the National Register of Historic Places
LOCATION |
PHOTO |
DOCUMENTATION |
Soldier and Sailors Monument
1st and Walnut,
Hutchinson,
Reno County
Coordinates:
38.053492, -97.930078
Refer to Hutchinson, Reno County entry for related information.
|
|
SUVCW CWM #61 form on file:
Soldier and Sailors Monument CWM#61
National Register Nomination on file:
Soldier and Sailors Monument National Register
|
Pioneer Cemetery
(old Oread Cemetery)
Constant Avenue at Irving Hill Rd
KU Campus
Lawrence,
Douglas County
Coordinates
38.953139, -95.261720
Refer to Lawrence, Douglas County entry for related information.
|
|
SUVCW CWM #61 form on file:
Pioneer Cemetery Monument CWM#61
|
Recruits Marker
700 Block, New Hampshire Street
Lawrence,
Douglas County
Coordinates
38.970594, -95.235159
Refer to Lawrence, Douglas County entry for related information.
|
|
SUVCW CWM #61 form on file:
Union Recuits Marker CWM#61
|
Civil War Monument
Hillside Cemetery (NW of town)
Kinsley, Edwards County
Coordinates: 37.936242, -99.448439
Refer to Kinsley,Edwards County entry for related information.
|
|
SUVCW CWM #61 form on file:
Kinsley CW Monument CWM#61
National Register Nomination on file:
Kinsley CW Monument National Register
|
|
OTHER RECOGNITIONS
It is impossible to visit cemeteries without noticing the
gravestones and cast medallions that reference the G.A.R. and the
W.R.C. There are also many headstones that show pride in G.A.R. membership.
While these are not the same level of Civil War Memorials
as recorded above, they do provide significant honor and
interest. To view these recognitions, click here:
|
REFERENCES AND CONTRIBUTORS
Many people and many documents have contributed
to the creation and maintenance of this memorials listing. They all
need to be recognized and thanked for their contribution.
|
SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR - DEPARTMENT OF KANSAS
Civil War Memorials Officer - Douglas E. McGovern
demcgovern@vintage-visuals.com
|
|
|
