List of the oldest buildings in Kansas

This article lists the oldest extant buildings in Kansas, including extant buildings and structures constructed prior to and during the United States rule over Kansas. Only buildings built prior to 1860 are suitable for inclusion on this list, or the building must be the oldest of its type.

In order to qualify for the list, a structure must:

  • be a recognizable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy);
  • incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height and/or be a listed building.

This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues. Bridges may be included if they otherwise fulfill the above criteria. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating or dendrochronology and should be considered approximate. If the exact year of initial construction is estimated, it will be shown as a range of dates.

List of oldest buildings

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Building Image Location First built Use Notes
Fangro House Shawnee, Kansas ca. 1824 Residence Oldest building in Shawnee; Located at 5707 Nieman Road; It was made of hand pressed bricks; Now located in front of an electrical business.[1]
The Rookery   Fort Leavenworth ca. 1834 Military residence Oldest continuously occupied residence in Kansas.[2]
West Building   Shawnee Methodist Mission, Johnson County, Kansas 1839 Religious/Educational [3]
East Building   Shawnee Methodist Mission, Johnson County, Kansas 1841 Religious/Educational [4]
North Building   Shawnee Methodist Mission, Johnson County, Kansas 1845 Religious/Educational [5]
Iowa, Sac, and Fox Presbyterian Mission   Highland, Kansas 1846 Mission
Pottawatomie Baptist Mission Building   Topeka, Kansas 1849 School Indian mission school
Kaw Mission   Council Grove, Kansas 1851 Religious/ Educational
Gov. Andrew Reeder Mansion Shawnee, Kansas c. 1854 Residence Home of Gov. Andrew Horatio Reeder[6]
First Territorial Capitol of Kansas   Pawnee, Kansas 1855 Government First territorial capitol of the state; only used for five days
Hartford House   Manhattan, Kansas 1855 Residence Prefabricated house brought from Cincinnati to Kansas
Pottawatomie Indian Pay Station   St. Marys, Kansas 1855 Mission building Oldest building remaining at St. Mary's Mission (Kansas)
1734 Kent Terrace Lawrence, Kansas 1855 Residence Oldest house in Lawrence[7]
Levi Flint House Johnson County, Kansas c. 1856 Residence [8]
Ritchie House   Topeka, Kansas 1856 Residence Oldest house in Topeka[9]
Barnes Apple Barn   Baldwin City, Kansas 1857 Barn
Christian Wetzel Cabin   Junction City, Kansas 1857 Residence
Constitution Hall   Lecompton, Kansas 1857 Government Second territorial capitol of Kansas
Goodnow House   Manhattan, Kansas 1857 Residence
Grinter Place   Kansas City, Kansas 1857 Residence Oldest house in Kansas City, KS[10]
Hollenberg Pony Express Station   Hanover, Kansas 1857 Residence
J. B. Mahaffie House   Olathe, Kansas 1857 Residence
Last Chance Store   Council Grove, Kansas 1857 Commercial
Samuel D. Houston House   Manhattan, Kansas 1857 Residence
Samuel J. Tipton House Harris, Kansas 1857 Residence
William C. & Jane Shaft House   Cedar Point, Kansas 1857 Residence
Judge James Hanway House Lane, Kansas 1858 Residence
Old Castle Hall   Baker University 1858 College Oldest college building in state; Original home to Baker University, now located east of the main campus. The building predates the creation of the State of Kansas by three years. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[11]
Robert H. Miller House   Lawrence, Kansas 1858 Residence
Irvin Hall   Highland, Kansas 1859 School first permanent building at Highland University in Highland, Kansas. It is the oldest building in Kansas still used for higher education
Dietrich Cabin   Ottawa, Kansas 1859 Residence Oldest building in Ottawa
First Congregational Church (Manhattan, Kansas)   Manhattan, Kansas 1859 Church Oldest Protestant church still in use by its original congregation
Fort Hays Blockhouse   Hays, Kansas 1865 Military Oldest building in Northwest Kansas
Darius Sales Munger House   Wichita, Kansas 1868 Residence Oldest building in Wichita, built of hewn logs.[12]
Little Stranger Church and Cemetery   Leavenworth County, Kansas 1868 Church Oldest wood-framed church in Kansas
Freemount Lutheran Church   Lindsborg, Kansas 1870 Church Likely oldest Lutheran church building in Kansas; Oldest in McPherson County
Hans Hanson House cabin   Marquette, Kansas 1871 Residence Oldest building in Marquette, where town charter was signed. On the grounds of larger residence.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Shawnee invests in marquee downtown attraction" By Rob Roberts – Reporter, Kansas City Business Journal Sep 26, 2017 https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2017/09/26/shawnee-aztec-theatre-grant.html/
  2. ^ https://www.travelks.com/listing/rookery-(the)/42453/
  3. ^ https://www.jcprd.com/827/Historic-Properties
  4. ^ https://www.jcprd.com/827/Historic-Properties
  5. ^ https://www.jcprd.com/827/Historic-Properties
  6. ^ https://johnsoncountykansasheritagefoundation.com/explore-johnson-county-history/johnson-county-historic-resources-project/historic-resources-listed-on-the-survey-report-of-existing-structures//
  7. ^ Chad Lawhorn, "Lawhorn’s Lawrence: The city’s oldest home," Lawrence Journal-World, Dec 1, 2013 https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2013/dec/01/lawhorns-lawrence-citys-oldest-home/
  8. ^ https://johnsoncountykansasheritagefoundation.com/explore-johnson-county-history/johnson-county-historic-resources-project/historic-resources-listed-on-the-survey-report-of-existing-structures//
  9. ^ https://www.visittopeka.com/listing/the-historic-ritchie-house/95/
  10. ^ https://www.visitkansascityks.com/blog/post/historical-homes-in-kansas-city-ks/#:~:text=Grinter%20Place%20Historic%20Site%20is,to%20Moses%20and%20Annie%20Grinter.
  11. ^ "Historic Campus Architecture Project: Old Castle". Council of Independent Colleges. 2006. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  12. ^ https://www.oldcowtown.org/CB/Pages/DAR-and-the-Munger-House.aspx
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