Where to Go
Lawrence is a city literally bustling with activity! You'll find a wide array of exciting, cultural, educational and entertaining experiences everywhere you look!
All Attractions A-Z
Displaying 1-10 of 23 attractions.
Black Jack Battlefield
The Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park is being developed on the site of the Battle of Black Jack, June 2, 1856. The goal is to protect it from the suburban growth that threatens to destroy the very land where John Brown and Henry Clay Pate fought the first battle in the conflict that was the American Civil War.
Booth Family Hall of Athletics
The Booth Family Hall of Athletics is a 26,000-square-foot museum adjacent to the east side of Allen Fieldhouse. The Hall honors KU's historic athletics programs, its coaches and student-athletes, past and present. Located inside Allen Fieldhouse, the Hall features numerous exhibits, the KU Hall of Fame and a retail store.
Dole Institute of Politics
Located in a striking 28,000-square-foot structure on KU's West Campus, the Dole Institute opened in July 2003. The Institute houses exhibits tracing half a century of Kansas and American history. A 23-foot stained glass American flag forms the backdrop to displays including Dole's World War II uniform, as well as other artifacts, videos and historic photographs. In addition, the building serves as a research center; Dole's personal papers comprise the world's largest congressional collection.
Besides a 120-seat seminar room, the Institute features a spectacular public forum that hosts debates, conferences, lectures and seminars. Each year, the Dole Institute sponsors its Presidential Lecture Series where acclaimed biographers give free lectures at the neighboring Lied Center.
The Dole Institute houses, preserves and makes available (subject to
restrictions) Senator Robert J. Dole's House of Representative papers, Senate papers, and post Senate papers. The archive is comprised of almost 4,000 boxes of papers, 25,000 photographs and several thousand artifacts, all housed in the lower level of the Dole Institute of Politics.
http://www.doleinstitute.org/archives/
Downtown Lawrence
Lawrence boasts one of the most beautiful downtowns in all the U.S. The National Trust for Historic Preservation ranked Lawrence among its "Dozen Most Distinctive Destinations," touting it as one of the best-preserved and most unique communities in America. Take a stroll down historic Massachusetts (the locals call it Mass) Street and indulge your senses with blocks of antiques shops, boutiques, quirky coffee shops and sidewalk cafes as the sounds of a street musician or local jazz house filter down the street.
Looking for a great gift idea for a shopaholic? Try a Downtown Lawrence, Inc. gift certificate! Redeemable at more than 150 local retailers, restaurants and service providers, these certificates can be purchased at any Douglas County Bank location or by calling Downtown Lawrence, Inc. at 785-842-3883.
Galleries
Lawrence offers a multitude of art galleries. Downtown Lawrence Gallery Walks are a celebration of the arts in Lawrence. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on select Fridays throughout the year, participating galleries and arts centers stay open to the public, featuring special exhibits, demonstrations and other festivities. Take advantage of this opportunity to see the arts alive in Lawrence! Visit our events calendar for exact dates.
Haskell Cultural Center
The newly completed center serves as a Visitor Center for the campus and features exhibits from the university's archival and artifact collections. It provides a learning center for Haskell students, faculty and the public to understand more about Haskell's diverse history. A gallery exhibits student and American Indian artwork and the grounds include a veterans memorial and amphitheater.
Haskell Indian Nations University
Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) first opened its doors in 1884 as the United States Indian Industrial Training School. In 1890, the name of the school officially changed to Haskell Institute in honor of Dudley C. Haskell, the congressman instrumental in having the school built in Lawrence. Within 10 years, the school expanded to include secondary curriculum. Less than 30 years later the institution focused on senior-high programming, and in 1970 the institution received accreditation as a junior college. Now with many buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Haskell is a fascinating piece of Lawrence history. For a self-guided tour of historic HINU, stop by the Lawrence Visitor Information Center at North Second and Locust streets, just north of downtown across the Kansas River.
Hobbs Park Memorial
Located in historic Old East Lawrence, the Hobbs Park Memorial is a new public monument that builds upon the community's abolitionist roots. The monument is comprised of an 1860s masonry dwelling constructed in the "rebuilding" period in the city's history, after the 1863 sacking, burning and massacre at the hands of William Quantrill. The house, which could not be preserved at its original site, was recently moved to a public park, which was the home site of an important Lawrence founder, John Speer. Speer was a leader of the rebuilding efforts after the raid. The memorial is the first in more than 70 years paying tribute to the vision, perseverance and sacrifices of Lawrence's founders and early residents. Located in Hobbs Park at 11th and Delaware streets.
Jayhawk Boulevard
The University of Kansas stands high on a hill overlooking Lawrence. Early traders, explorers and families climbed the ridge that is now Jayhawk Boulevard to head west along the Oregon Trail. Erosion and construction have worn away the wagon wheel ruts but as the University grew, Jayhawk Boulevard emerged running parallel to the Oregon Trail. Now lined with 16 buildings that contain classrooms, museums, laboratories, auditoriums, cafeterias, a library and a chapel, Jayhawk Boulevard reflects more than 125 years of campus history. For a self-guided tour of historic Jayhawk Boulevard, stop by the Lawrence Visitor Information Center at North Second Street and Locust streets, just north of downtown across the Kansas River.
Kenneth Spencer Research Library
Designed for the preservation and use of rare materials, the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, on the University of Kansas campus, provides a home to some of the finest collections in North America. The library houses three major units: the Kansas Collection (785-864-4274), with books, manuscripts, photographs and other records of the area; the Department of Special Collections (785-864-4334), with rare books and manuscripts in literature, history and natural history; and University Archives (785-864-4188), the repository of KU history.
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