Marshall County, KS
Marshall County is rich in history with eleven sites on the National Historic Register. It is crossed by eight historic trails, including the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express Trail, the Military Trail, Overland (Stage) Trail, Mormon Trail, Otoe Trail, Pike's Peak-California Trail and St. Joseph-California Trail. It is also crossed by the railroad, which entered the county in the 1860's. It is estimated the westward migration over twenty-three years saw 500,000 follow these trails. The town of Frankfort is located on one of the longest Indian Trails in the United States. Blue Rapids is home of some of the purest gypsum mined in the world, and host to the 1913 World Tour, Chicago White Sox and New York Giants game. In 1851, Francis J. (Frank) Marshall of Weston, Missouri arrived at the bank of the Big Blue River. He came to establish a trading post and to operate a ferry. On November 11, 1854, he opened the first civilian post office in the territory of Kansas. Marshall lent his name to the county and Marysville, the county seat, was named to honor his wife.
Prairie grass along the valleys and gentle slopes of Marshall County were transformed by immigrants into fertile acres of corn, milo, wheat, alfalfa and soybeans. Descendants of the first Hereford cattle brought into the county from England still are bred here, along with large herds of Angus and dairy cattle.
Explore Marshall County
Historic Trails Park
Historic Trails Park recognizes the Trails that merged at this point because of the ability to cross the river on the ferry. Trail traffic often crossed a low water ford north of this park bringing westbound travelers through this very spot on the south bank of the Blue River. Marshall'
Marysville, KS Pioneer LifeCountry Club Lake
Country Club Lake offers a small playground, a sandy area, fishing and is a great area for kite flying!
Marysville, KS RecreationSouth Koester House - Restaurant
The newest house in the historic Koester Block was built circa 1904-1906 and is now a restaurant.
Marysville, KS Historic HomesHolm Log Cabin
The two room Holm cabin was built by Swedish pioneers in approximately 1876 of hand hewn logs of oak and door frames of walnut. The cabin was lived in until about 1981.
Blue Rapids, KS Pioneer LifeAlcove Spring
Alcove Spring is a spring of fresh water flowing from the side of the alcove into the basin below the Naomi Pike 10-12 foot falls, all in a woodland setting. The spring has never been known to dry up, even during severe Kansas droughts. Today, the spring is part of a 223
Blue Rapids, KS LandmarksPusch-Randell-Anderson Home
[Pusch-Randell-Anderson Home] Just east of the Historic Koester Block is one of Marysville's finest houses, the F.S. "Bud" Anderson home. Built in 1904
Marysville, KS Historic HomesOpera House
Opened in 1903 and is still in use for community activities. The interior was recently painted, and the chandelier has been refurbished to glow as it did in 1903. Tours available.
Waterville, KS Historic BuildingsDoll House Museum
Enjoy a nationally recognized collection of Dolls, Indians, Toys and History, stretching from antique to the present time and all appearing in storytelling antics. The "Doll Museum comes with it's own unique Story Telling Experience." Over 1,500
Marysville, KS MuseumsTransue Brothers Blacksmith and Wagon Shop Museum
The blacksmith business in Summerfield, Kansas is by far the oldest continuous business in the town, having started with the town in 1889
Summerfield, KS MuseumsWaterville's Railroad Depot Museum
Waterville's Railroad Depot Museum keeps Waterville's history in the historic refurbished 1870
Waterville, KS MuseumsHistoric Library
The Blue Rapids Public Library, second site in Marshall County chosen for the National Register of Historic Buildings, was built in 1875 for a library and has served for that purpose ever since. The library has existed in one location longer than any other library in the state.
Blue Rapids, KS National Register