Part two of possible trip plans-----
When we last left our intrepid traveller, they had just passed Higginsville, MO and was wondering why only a part of Captain Quantrill's was buried there. From memory, after the war Q's mother and one of his boyhood friends go down to Louisville, KY to get his body. Q's mother doesn't have the funds for her hotel, much less the cost to bring his body back to Ohio, so the boyhood friend is left paying the bills. How to get reimbursed for this trip when momma doesn't have the money? Try and sell the scull and a few other bones to interested parties!!!!! The State Historical Society of KS might be interested! So a few bits and pieces of poor Capt. Quantrill's ended up in various collections, with most of him being buried in Dover, Ohio. (And the good folks of Dover weren't too happy with what they got either). A few years ago the Captains wandering remains were collected and I think his scull went back to the rest of him in Ohio, but an arm and leg bone was buried at Higginsville. This may not be the exact story, but it's probably close enough for this travelog.
We by-passed Kansas City. We may to take a look there, it's certainly worth a day of vacation time.
Kansas City is known as the "city city of fountains" and is sister city to Seville, Spain, thus the Spanish/mediterrean architecture of the "Plaza" district, along with the many fountains.
When Kansas City was first founded, it was nothing more than a spot where the river traffic unloaded it's cargo. The major city at that time was Westport, which was the last civilized area where travellers could fit themselves out before going on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trail. So instead of going east on I-70 after you left Higginsville, you turned west headed to what the locals call " KC" (Kansas City). You drive past the town of Blue Springs and if you happened to have looked north you might have seen a hill that's just a little higher than the he others. That's "Pink Hill" and while nothing remains of the little settlement now, back during the CW, there were dozens of skirmishes in and around this area, and one guerrila wedding at the Babtist church that was there. This whole area from this point on to KC was the major battleground of Quantrill's boys.
As you approach KC, you may want to take a detour north to the City of Independence, site of two battles and the home of President Harry Truman and his presidential library. On I-70 you'll pass under Noland road. If you had taken that exit and turned north you would go past a large cemetery on your right, called Woodlawn, The Noland family had three sons and many cousin's that rode with Quantrill. They also had a mulatto slave by the name of John that was a scout for Quantrill, and was probably a cousin to the Noland brothers. John Noland was so we'll thought of that after the war when he died, his pallbearers were former Quantrill men, and they had engraved " A Man Amoung Men" engraved on his gravestone. Noland road will also take you into Independence.
Your on I-70 and it goes right through downtown KC. Get off on the Independence Avenue exit and head north to the "City Market/River Market" area. You're going to the Arabia Museum. The "Arabia" was a river boat that hit a snag in the MO river in 1854 and sunk while carrying cargo to settlements along the upper MO river. It sunk just north of KC, was discovered 20-30 years ago and dug up with it's cargo intact. On the trip just previous to when it was sunk, the boat was stopped at Lexington, MO by border ruffians and abolishionist settlers headed to KS were removed along with a shipment of Sharps rifles were taken off.
Once you leave the museum, go south on Grand boulavard and after you go over I-70 take any cross street to the west and get on Main Street heading South. In this area around 14th Street is where Gen. Ewing had imprisioned the sisters of some of Quatrills men. The building collaped killing 5 of them and that was part of the reason for the Lawerence Raid.
Ok, you're on Main Street and heading for the Crown Center area and the National WWI museum. The memorial is a very large and tall collum on the north side of a hill. Drive past it and look for the entry road to it called "memorial drive." To my shame, I've never been there. When I lived in KC it was closed for repairs, it's back in service now since we've just celebrated WWI (can you celebrate a war?) I understand it is exceptional.
You can go up into the tower, and if you do, notice the old rail road terminal to the east. In the 1930's gangsters had a shoot out in the far end of the parking lot and it was called "The Kansas City Massacre" as four police officers were killed in the fight. "Pretty Boy" Floyed may or may not have taken part in the shoot out.
Get back on Main Street and head south. Once you pass 39th Steet, you may want to take the next left ( Old Westport Road) and go into Westport. KC, despite it's modest beginings soon swallowed up all the little towns that predate it, and that's what happened to Westport. It's now known as a drinking spot for the younger crowd, and I suspect it was know for that to, back in the day. A lot of the old buildings were there during the CW, and now they are eating establishments and craft breweries. Before the CW, the buildings in Westport, the one that were not bars, were wharehouses for cargo going on the Santa Fe Trail.
From Westport, you want to head east to get on Broadway Boulavard, and head south again. Broadway runs north and south on the Eastern edge of Westport and you went across it when you previously got off Main to go into Westport.
So your now on Broadway heading south. You'll pass over a street called Wornel Road or Wornell Lane. Along this road sometime in July of 1863 some of Quantrill's men, led by Todd, killed 15 members of the 9th KS Cavalry. Two members of Q's men were killed in the Skirmish, a Fernando Scott, a close friend of Frank James, and a Daniel Boone Scroll, the great grandson of Daniel Boone.
Ok, you're on Broadway heading south. Pretty soon Broadway turns into J.C.Nichols Parkway. Look to your right and pretty soon you'll see the architecture turn to a southern Mediterranean style. This is "The Plaza District" home to KC's upscale shopping and dinner district. Turn right on Emmanuel Clever Boulavard and go into the plaza. ( If you had turned left on Em. Clever in two blocks you would g past the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art). This is the first professionally designed shopping district in the U.S. Turn left on Wornall Road. Go across Brush Creek. This was the Union line of battle during the Battle of Westport
Go south 3 or 4 blocks and Jacob Loose Park is on your right. Go to the South end of the park and turn right on West 55th Street. In the park, along the line of the street are a number of cannon placed there to note the position of Prices troops during the battle. Get out and read the signage. Get back in the car and turn around, going east on West 55th street. Joseph O. Shelby had his big cavalry battle in this area and further south along Wornel Road as the right flank of the Confederates was turned and collapsed. Shelby was able to hold his position long enough to allow Price to escape.
Possible side trip--- if you continue down 55th for a few blocks and turn left on Oak, and go north two blocks, you'll be behind the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Antique toys, and doll house furniture for sure, but perhaps some miniature figures. I don't know, I've never been there.
Ok you're at the corner of 55th and Wornell road. Turn right on Wornell road and go down to 59th street and turn left. Take 59th street all the way to where it ends at the Blue River. It was at this crossing where Marmaduke got his flank turned by the Federals and the battle of Westport was lost for Price. If you want to go to the Big Blue Battlefield park on the other side, you'll have to turn around and go back a couple of blocks to Denver Avenue, turn left go two blocks where Denver Ave. turns into Manchester Trafficway and follow it around to East 63rd street where you'll turn left, going over the Blue River then turn left on Hardesty Avenue and go into the park. I don't know anything about the park; it wasn't there when I lived in KC. -or-.........when you were at the corner of 55th and Wornell road, and had you turned south (right) on Wornell Road and continued down Wornell Road, between West 61st. Street and 61st Steet Terrace is the Wornell House, built in the late 1850's and open for tours. Wornell road is also the road Prices troops made their retreat down. And also somewhere on this road in 1862, Cole Youngers father was killed by MO Militia in what was a robbery. The death of his father was the impidous that Cole needed to join up with Quantrill.
At 63rd street turn left and stay on 63rd until you come to I-435.
If you're at the The Big Blue Battlefield park, get back on 63rd and heading east until you reach I-435. Head north on I-435 until you come to I-70 and turn east, you're going to Boonville!!!!!
You'll notice I haven't mentioned anything about going to Lawrence, KS.
If you really, really feel the need to go there, instead of going north on I-435 go South (west) take it south and west of KC and when your out in Lenexa, KS, look for hiway 10. It goes straight over to Lawrence. To the easteof Lawrence youll pass over the Walkarusa river, it was here that the Border Rufians had their camp during the Walkarusa War during the "Bleeding KS" days. As you approach Lawrence look on your right for the East 23rd exit/ road and stay on that until you come to Massachusetts street, turn right (north) and that will take you to downtown Lawrence. Most of the buildings were burnt by Quatrill, and Mount Oread is now the campus of the University of KS.
Part 3 to come: