Native Stone
Discover the natural beauty of the panoramic Native Stone Scenic Byway.
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History abounds in the little town of Wabaunsee, which sits just south of the Kansas River. A colony from Connecticut came here in 1854 to make a new life for themselves by taming this frontier in the new territory of Kansas. At this time boat travel was the most reliable form of transportation and steamboats even attempted to navigate the river but it was only possible during high water levels. No doubt the large expanse of bottom ground attracted settlers who needed crops for food to survive here.
The heart and soul of the community is the Beecher Bible and Rifle Church which still has an active congregation. This stone structure has witnessed a lot in the last 160 years while the town prospered then faded when school consolidation and lack of businesses took their toll. Wabuansee can be proud that it stood up for its beliefs to help make Kansas a free state. In addition to the church, visit Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park, a park rich in the history of Captain William E. Mitchell and the Underground Railroad.
Today, Wabaunsee can be found along the Native Stone Scenic Byway!
Discover the natural beauty of the panoramic Native Stone Scenic Byway.
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