Historic Preservation

The Lawrence Visitor Information Center, housed in Lawrence's historic Union Pacific Depot, should be every visitor's first stop in town. The center distributes information to Lawrence visitors about attractions, accommodations and special events in the city. In addition, the center offers similar information on Lawrence's neighboring communities. The center also shows a 27-minute docudrama called "Lawrence: Free State Fortress." The film chronicles the first 10 years of Lawrence's history and culminates with Quantrill's Raid on the city in 1863.

The depot was originally opened in 1889 by the Union Pacific Railroad. The building instantly became of hub of community activity and was the point of departure and return for soldiers during World War I and World War II. Eventually train travel dwindled and in 1984 when the railroad discontinued freight service it made plans to tear down the building. A group of Lawrence residents began an aggressive campaign with the railroad and the City of Lawrence to restore the structure. After several years Union Pacific agreed to turn the depot over to the City. The multimillion-dollar restoration of the building was completed with grant money and community donations. It opened as the Lawrence Visitor Information Center in 1996. Today, nearly 100 freight trains still roll by the depot every day and the building welcomes thousands of visitors to Lawrence each year.

Lawrence is the home to many other historic, preserved buildings and districts. The Old West Lawrence Historic District, located just west of downtown, features houses dating to the 1860s, many of which were originally destroyed in Quantrill's Raid and were then rebuilt. For more information about Old West Lawrence or Lawrence's other historic sites, contact the LCVB at 1-888-LAW-KANS.