Shawnee Methodist Mission, Kansas on the Santa Fe Trail
Nestled in Fairway, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, stands the Shawnee Methodist Mission, a poignant reminder of a complex chapter in American history. This site, strategically located along the famed Santa Fe Trail, served as a pivotal point of interaction between European-American missionaries and numerous Native American tribes during the 19th century. Today, the Shawnee Methodist Mission stands as a State Historic Site, inviting visitors to delve into its rich and multifaceted past.
The story of the Shawnee Methodist Mission begins with the United States government’s policy of Indian Removal. Through treaties like the one initiated in 1825, the Shawnee people, along with other tribes, were forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands in Ohio and Missouri and relocated to a designated reservation in what is now Kansas. This relocation was a devastating event for the Shawnee, disrupting their traditional way of life and severing ties to their cultural heritage.
In the wake of this forced migration, Reverend Thomas Johnson, a prominent Methodist missionary, recognized the need to provide education and religious instruction to the displaced tribes. In 1830, he established the first Shawnee Methodist Mission in the Turner community of present-day Kansas City, Kansas. This initial mission served both the Shawnee and Delaware tribes, offering basic education and religious guidance.
However, Reverend Johnson envisioned a larger and more comprehensive institution. In 1839, he made the decision to relocate the mission to a more strategic location along the Santa Fe Trail. This move was driven by the belief that a new, larger school would be able to serve a greater number of tribes and further his mission of converting and "civilizing" Native Americans. The new location, situated in present-day Fairway, Kansas, was ideally positioned to attract students from various tribes who were traveling along the vital trade route.
Construction of the new Shawnee Methodist Mission began in earnest. The first building, known today as the West Building, was completed in October 1839. This structure served as both classrooms and living quarters for the teachers who dedicated themselves to educating the Native American children. The West Building stands as a testament to the early days of the mission, its sturdy walls echoing with the voices of students and teachers from generations past.
The mission quickly expanded to accommodate the growing number of students. In 1841, the East Building was completed, providing additional classrooms and living space. Finally, in 1845, the North Building was erected, serving as a dormitory and classroom specifically for female students. These three buildings, constructed of durable brick, stand as the most prominent features of the historic site today, offering a tangible connection to the mission’s past.
The curriculum at the Shawnee Methodist Mission was designed to provide Native American children with the skills and knowledge deemed necessary for assimilation into American society. Boys were taught basic academics, manual arts, and agricultural techniques, while girls were instructed in domestic skills such as sewing, cooking, and cleaning. The mission sought to instill in its students the values and practices of European-American culture, often at the expense of their own traditional customs and beliefs.
Over the years, children from a diverse array of tribes attended the Shawnee Methodist Mission. These included the Kanza, Munsee, Delaware, Ottawa, Chippewa, Otoe, Osage, Cherokee, Peoria, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Wea, Gros Ventre, Omaha, and Wyandot tribes. The mission served as a melting pot of Native American cultures, bringing together children from different backgrounds and linguistic groups under one roof.
At its peak, the Shawnee Methodist Mission encompassed approximately 2,000 acres, a sprawling campus that included farms, gardens, and a total of sixteen buildings. In addition to the main school buildings, the mission also boasted a wagon shop, blacksmith shop, wash house, stables, smokehouse, barn, spring house, and even its own steam grist and sawmill. This self-sufficient community provided the students with a comprehensive education and practical training in a variety of trades.
The Shawnee Methodist Mission also played a significant role in the tumultuous politics of the Kansas Territory. In 1854, when the territory was officially established, Andrew Reeder, the newly appointed territorial governor, chose the mission as his temporary headquarters, setting up his offices in the North Building.
The following year, the first Territorial Legislature convened at Pawnee, Kansas. However, a cholera outbreak and dissatisfaction with the remote location led the pro-slavery legislators, largely from Missouri, to pass a bill to adjourn the session to the Shawnee Methodist Mission. Despite Governor Reeder’s veto, the legislature overrode him, and the mission became the second capital of Kansas on July 16, 1855.
For a brief period, the Shawnee Methodist Mission served as the epicenter of Kansas politics, a territory deeply divided over the issue of slavery. The pro-slavery legislature enacted a series of controversial laws that further inflamed tensions and contributed to the outbreak of violence known as "Bleeding Kansas." These legislators and their actions became known as the "Bogus Legislature," a testament to the fraudulent and divisive nature of their proceedings.
In 1856, the territorial capital was moved to Lecompton, Kansas, and life at the Shawnee Methodist Mission gradually returned to normal. In 1858, Reverend Thomas Johnson passed the administration of the mission to his son, Alexander, who continued to operate the school until its closure in 1862.
During the Civil War, the Shawnee Methodist Mission served as a camp for Union soldiers, further disrupting the lives of the local community. The war brought significant changes to the region, and the mission’s role as an educational institution for Native Americans came to an end.
Tragically, Reverend Thomas Johnson, who had moved to Missouri, was murdered by Southern sympathizers in 1865. Despite his earlier pro-slavery stance, Johnson had signed a Unionist pledge at the outbreak of the Civil War, angering many in Missouri. He was buried in the Shawnee Methodist Mission cemetery, a final resting place for him and several members of his family.
Over the years, the Shawnee Methodist Mission property passed through several private owners until the State of Kansas acquired it in 1927. Since then, the Kansas Historical Society has administered the site, preserving its historic buildings and interpreting its complex history for the public. In 1968, the Shawnee Methodist Mission was designated a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its significance to American history.
Today, the Shawnee Methodist Mission State Historic Site stands as a museum, featuring exhibits that explore the lives of Kansas Indians, the role of agents and missionaries, the history of Kansas settlement, the overland trails, the Kansas-Missouri Border War, and the Civil War. Visitors can tour the three main brick buildings, walk the grounds, and contemplate the profound impact of this site on the history of Kansas and the American West. The Shawnee Methodist Mission offers a powerful and thought-provoking glimpse into a pivotal era in American history, a time of both opportunity and tragedy, of cultural exchange and forced assimilation.