LASR.net Homepage




Menu

Kingman, Kansas

Kingman, Kansas

The site of Kingman was on the Ninnescah crossing of the Hutchinson-Medicine Lodge Trail. There in 1872, Norman Ingraham located his house, which he had hauled from Reno County. He hoped the place would become a city and he named it Sherman. There stood the town of Sherman with one shack and one cottonwood tree, waiting to become a city. J.H. Fical and his brother started a new town at Sherman in 1874 and named it Kingman. The county, the town, and a township were all named for Samuel A. Kingman, Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. Only Sherman Street remains to remind one of the town's first name. Even the first hotel had its name changed from "The Sherman House" to the "Kingman House."

Pure rock salt was discovered in 1887 and workers moved to town, so additions to Kingman were hastily developed. This Boom-town was called the "Queen of the Ninnescah", ironic to Samuel A. Kingman's Fourth of July oration in 1878 at Kingman, "Our state history has no nobler name," said D.W. Wilder, than Kingman's and "it will live with the life of the State."

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Riverside Park

Kingman's Riverside Park is the only island park in Kansas and is complete with a walking path, baseball fields, horseshoe pits, swimming pool, two play areas, fairgrounds, rodeo arena, sand volleyball and fishing pond.

Kingman, KS Parks

Riggs/Waterloo Aboretum

Established by John Water Riggs, the Riggs Arboretum at Waterloo is perhaps the oldest and least known arboretum west of the Mississippi River. The property is in essence a large (10 acre) grove of trees, most ranging in age from 75 to 100+

Kingman, KS Arboretums

Kingman County Courthouse

The Kingman County Courthouse is also on the National Register and is worth a look. The stairs are massive, like many of the old courthouses, but these are really different. The railings are made of one piece of limestone that's probably close to 20 feet long and at least 12 to 18

Kingman, KS Historic Courthouses

Kingman Library Clock

Among the really historical relics of Kingman which is seen perhaps most often, and appreciated for its historical value, is the Library Clock, over 100 years old. The old clock kept time in Peter Miller'

Kingman, KS Artifacts

Kingman Carnegie Library

Built in 1914, the Kingman Public Library is one of several Carnegie Libraries still being used for the purpose for which it was erected. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Kingman Carnegie Library has 92 paid periodical subscriptions and 885

Kingman, KS Carnegie Libraries

Things to do near Kingman, KS

Historic Fox Theatre

The Newton Fox Theatre was built in 1914 and once showcased vaudeville acts. It had a full pit for an orchestra and coal shoo...

Carry Nation Marker

"The hatchet Lady" began her crusade against alcohol by smashing her first saloon with rocks & bricks on July 6, 1899 in Kiow...