Lanesfield Historic Site

About Us

The limestone schoolhouse, the last remaining structure in the former town of Lanesfield, was listed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1988.

Visitors to the Lanesfield Historic Site can learn about the history of education in Kansas and Johnson County by touring this on view in the visitor center. A rural educational system dominated small Kansas communities until the mid-20th century. Learn about the typical school day, the curriculum, and the role most schoolhouses played in the larger community. The lives of teachers and students are also featured in sections about boarding, the school day, and graduation. Visitors may also learn about General James H. Lane, the town’s namesake, the restoration of the Lanesfield School and see artifacts that survived the 1903 fire.

The site also features seven interpretive panels on the grounds that tell the story of the schoolhouse, the town of Lanesfield and its connection with General and U.S. Senator James H. Lane, the reasons for the town’s eventual decline, Santa Fe Trail history, stories of the local Border War, and the agricutural experience in Johnson County. An accompanying audio tour is also available. Visitors are welcome to tour site grounds during daylight hours. National Park Service Passport Stamps are available outside the Visitor Center entrance