There’s A Lot To See and Do In Lecompton!

The quaint little town of Lecompton overlooks the Kansas River and offers a 20-minute scenic drive from Lawrence. The River Road was originally a highly traveled wagon road and is now a favorite course for local bikers and birders. Bald Eagles are often sighted along this route.

History enthusiasts can spend time at the museums or participate in a “Bleeding Kansas” reenactment. Constitution Hall, a National and Kansas Landmark, is the oldest wood-frame building in Kansas, still situated on its original site. A chain of events dividing the nation and leading to the Civil War happened here.  

The Territorial Capital Museum chronicles the history of Lecompton from its tumultuous and controversial territorial days to its delightfully quaint present. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it hosts a Christmas Display each year from November 1 through January 1 with about 200 Christmas trees decorated in antique, Victorian-themed ornaments.

The Old Lecompton City Jail is a stone structure with the original door, hardware, and window bars. Used as a jail until the 1920s, visitors can step inside to see how confinement would have felt in that place and time.

The post office on Woodson has a mural of downtown Lecompton painted by Ellen Duncan, the town’s artist-in-residence. It is a lovely scene recreated from old photographs of the east side of Elmore Street before the disastrous fire of 1916.

Like to canoe or kayak? Lecompton has an access point to the Kansas River Trail. Explore the unique beauty of eastern Kansas from the river itself! 

Lecompton also has shopping and dining options. Bald Eagle Mercantile and Claymama’s on Elmore Street are open on the weekends or by appointment. Kroeger’s Country Meats is famous for its fresh meats and 20 flavors of homemade sausages, and Aunt Netter’s Café is known for its fabulous cinnamon rolls and homemade pies. The newest Lecompton business is Empty Nesters Winery, selling fruit wines and, soon, jams & honey.

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Attribution: Thanks to Paul Bahnmaier of the Lecompton Historical Society for content. For more detail about Lecompton area attractions, visit lecomptonkansas.com.