Founded in 1854 by the New England Emigrant Aid Society in an effort to keep the territory free from slavery, Lawrence is said to be one of the only U.S. cities founded strictly for political reasons.
Founded in 1854 by the New England Emigrant Aid Society in an effort to keep the territory free from slavery, Lawrence is said to be one of the only U.S. cities founded strictly for political reasons. During the Civil War Lawrence was home to many Abolitionists and Free Staters. It was a town representative of anti-slavery sentiments, making it the target of several attacks by pro-slavery bushwhackers. On August 21, 1863, the infamous Quantrill's Raid resulted in the deaths of nearly 200 unarmed Lawrence men and boys and nearly destroyed the young city in what has become known by historians as one of the worst atrocities of the Civil War.
Many members of the original New England Emigrant Aid Society, as well as the victims of Quantrill's horrific raid on the town, are buried in historic cemeteries here. The Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau offers a Historic Cemeteries Self-Guided Tour that guides visitors through five historic cemeteries and tells the important story of many of Lawrence's most dedicated citizens.
The tour also educates the visitor about the symbolism of different burial marker icons as well as the significance and evolving nature of cemeteries through time. The tour visits the graves of Lawrence's original settlers, the victims of Quantrill's Raid and their families and a memorial to James Naismith, who coached at the University of Kansas and is credited with inventing the game of basketball.
