Backwoods

Historic Homes Tour

Architectural variety characterizes Old West Lawrence. From the beginning, the neighbor hood was home to Lawrence's elite. Homes were built not only to accommodate basic shelter needs, but also to make statements of wealth, prestige and fashion. The oldest houses were built in 1860 and 1861

Prairie Park Nature Center

This center hosts a vast system of trails, a bird watching area and prairie observatory. The main building houses nine permanent exhibits plus a classroom, gift shop and meeting room. The park encompasses 71 acres and contains approximately eight acres of virgin, never plowed prairie with nearly 180

Stan Herd Earth Art

The Medicine Wheel earth art was designed by a Haskell art instructor and Haskell students and built by internationally known crop-artist, Stan Herd (also a Lawrencian). Crop art is a way of planting and growing crops to create a visual image, in this case the medicine wheel. Although a bird'

Kenneth Spencer Research Library

Designed for the preservation and use of rare materials, the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, on the University of Kansas campus, provides a home to some of the finest collections in North America. The library houses three major units:

• Kansas Collection ((785) 864-4274)
  Lawrence, KS Research Centers

Douglas County Courthouse

The Douglas County Courthouse was built of native limestone in 1904. It was saved from demolition in the 1960s when a modern courthouse was built, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is currently in use by the county.