Places to Visit – Open By Event/By Appointment

• 3 miles east of Baldwin City on US 56 highway. South side of highway at roadside park.
• This replica 1850’s log cabin was built of white oak logs in 1971 by SFTHS. It is similar to the log cabins found in this area at that time.
• Historical items from daily life, farm life and trail life are displayed inside. Items include cooking utensils, toys, butter churn, tools, oxen and mule shoes and harness, barbed wire samples, maps of local sites, and more.
• Signs near the site explain the significance of the area.
• Located next to the cabin is a ¼ mile loop trail along and through 5 prominent wagon ruts, some nearly 4 feet deep. (The trail is open daily.)
• The ruts were created by thousands of wagons, mules, oxen, and people traveling to and from Santa Fe between 1821-1880’s. Over 5 ruts cross 18 acres of native tall grass prairie that contain over 200 species of wildflowers, grasses, and sedges. Different species are in bloom every week of summer. (Ruts and prairie are open daily.)
• Find historical information at Black Jack Parks and Historical Cabin

• FREE, check our home page for events or open by appointment.
• Clearfield School house was built around 1900 but was moved to this location in 1907. 
• Its original location was one mile away. Steam tractors pulled the building down the road while it rolled over huge logs.
• The school closed in 1950 and was then used by the local Grange.
• The building was restored in the late 1990s.  The bell tower was replaced in 2023.
• The original interior is intact, including the huge wood burning furnace used to heat the room, the blackboards, floors, windows, doors, and more.  Time period desks and supplies are on hand to provide a true 1900’s schoolhouse experience.
• Find historical information at Clearfield Schoolhouse and Clearfield Schoolhouse Project

• Located in Vinland, about 4 miles north of Baldwin.
• FREE, Open Sunday afternoons April through October, may close due to high temperatures – check our homepage for more information
• Coal Creek Library was founded in 1859 by two teenaged girls for the moral, social, and intellectual improvement of its members.  It is the oldest subscription library in Kansas.
• The group first ordered 10 books at the cost of $10 (about $375 today).  The books were kept in private homes and then in the local Grange Hall.
• By 1900 the collection had grown to over 1,000 books and the entire community joined forces to build this library building.
• This building was restored in 2023.  The original interior is intact including the oak shelves, potbellied stove used to heat the room, windows and blinds, wood floors, books and more.  Many of the original 10 volumes are still housed in the library.
• Find historical information at Coal Creek Library

• FREE, check our home page and lawrencemodelrailroadclub.org for open dates  
• Baldwin City’s Santa Fe Depot was built in 1906 with “futuristic conveniences” including gas, electricity and a cold-water drinking fountain.
• Use of the Depot ended in the 1960’s.  It was beautifully restored and renovated by 1983. It contains many of its original features including separate waiting rooms for men and women with separate exits to the railroad tracks.
• The Lawrence Model Railroad Club is housed within the Depot today.  The group has huge HO and N gauge model railroads set up, and they enjoy sharing them with the public!
• Find information about Depot events and model railroad events at lawrencemodelrailroadclub.org
• Watch our home page also to see when the Depot is open
• Find historical information at Santa Fe Train Depot

• Located in Vinland, about 4 miles north of Baldwin.
• FREE, check our home page for events or Open by appointment.
• Vinland Grange Hall was built in 1884.The Grange was a social organization that encouraged families to work together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture.  This chapter included women and young people over age 14 as full members.
• It was the center of Vinland community life. Grange meetings, events, and meals were held upstairs. Other community groups such as the library, area churches, schools, youth groups, state and county agencies, and a variety of social groups also held events in the building.
• The ground floor has been a farm store, a bank, a cream-testing station, a barbershop, and as an apple packing space for area orchardists.
• Find more information at About Grange Hall and Grange Hall,

• FREE, Open by appointment: archives@bakeru.edu
• Old Castle was the first building at Baker University where classes began in 1858.
• In later years, Old Castle had a variety of uses including a home and a mill.  As a museum it contains many interesting treasures and displays about local history and Baker U.
• Blood’s Grocery Store and Post Office was a center of activity in the town on Palmyra located north of US 56.  Palmyra was established in 1855 along the Santa Fe Trail. 
• Baker University’s charter stated that the school must be located in or next to the town on Palmyra.  The townspeople were very supportive of BU. 
• The grocery store is only remaining building from the town of Palmyra and was restored in 2019.
• Historical information about these sites coming soon!

• FREE, Open by appointment: Quayle@bakeru.edu
• Named for Bishop William Quayle (pictured above) donor of original collection.
• The Collection includes over 1000 religious texts from multiple countries in various languages and scripts.  It includes bibles dedicated to Baker University signed by 14 U.S. presidents.
• A themed exhibit of selected items with accompanying information changes each year.
• Collection is housed in a beautiful English Oak wood paneled room from Herefordshire, England manor house originally built sometime in the 1500 or 1600s.  The room contains stained glass designed by glass artist Charles J. Connick and exhibited in the Chicago Institute of Art.
• Find more information search “Quayle Bible Collection – Baker University”