Kaw Mission, Council Grove, Kan. KHS photo.
COUNCIL GROVE, Kan. – The public is invited to a special presentation for Kaw Mission State Historic Site’s 175th Commemoration, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2026 at The Territory Ballroom, Council Grove, Kan., honoring the complex history of the site, as well as its significance to the indigenous Kaw Nation and state of Kansas.
Presented by Historic Site Administrator Mark Brooks and Executive Director of the Kansas State Historical Society Patrick Zollner, the program will cover the vast history of Kaw Mission, from its beginnings as a manual labor and boarding school for the Kanza people, to its present use as a museum. This event is part of the 2026 Kaw Mission Councils series focused on the rich history of westward expansion and how it affected Anglo, Hispanic, and Native peoples.
“The Kaw Mission was a big part of westward expansion and the government’s efforts to force assimilation onto Native peoples,” Brooks said. “The building has been used for many different purposes and numerous families have owned, rented, and raised families inside its massive stone walls. I hope that I can share some amazing stories and history of this grand old building.”
The presentation is sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society, Friends of Kaw Heritage, City of Council Grove, Young, Nystrom, Hylton, Trembly, area foundations and trusts.
Guests can also enjoy hors d’oeuvres, as well as a cash bar. The event is free, but a suggested donation of $3 will be collected. Territory Ballroom is located at 117-119 W. Main St., Council Grove.
For more information, contact the Kaw Mission and Last Chance Store Museums at kshs.kawmission@ks.gov, or call 620-307-2754.
Information thanks to Kansas Historical Society.
