We had parent-teacher conferences last week (Can you believe we're already at the midpoint of the quarter??), and once again I'm so thankful for the wonderful teachers who take such good care of my kiddos while they are at school. All three of my kids really lucked out with their teachers this year! Following conferences, we always get a day off school, which means a Just Me & My Boys Day! I've been wanting to visit Lecompton and see some of its history for awhile, so when I saw they were doing their annual "Bald Eagle Rendezvous" with all sorts of Civil War-era activities and living history re-enactments, I thought this was the perfect time to go! This sign as you enter Historic Lecompton details all about its designation as the "Territorial Capital" of Kansas. Can't wait to learn all about it!
We found our way to the Bald Eagle Riverview Park, home of the Rendezvous, ready for some fun!
The boys immediately spotted the ax throwing, which they couldn't wait to try. Yes, it was a real ax, and yes, they were allowing kids to throw them through the air in attempt to land them in a block of wood. No, neither of my boys were successful, but in their defense, the ax was heavy!
We watched the blacksmith make some beautiful designs on the end of a knife. . .
. . . and went shopping in the old-time store. My boys really wanted to bring home an animal face. (Just kidding, they actually wanted one of the cool knives; like me, they were a little freaked out by the animal faces.)
Next they checked out some of the Civil War weapons, including a super-loud cannon that was shot off right by us!
Inside the original Democratic Headquarters, they had more old muzzle-loader muskets. The boys were eating this stuff up.
They learned about how bows and arrows were made, and churned/sampled some butter.
They re-enacted some presidential debates that were really funny. I'm thinking our current candidates could probably use some tips on name-calling from these 1800s guys.
Once we'd experienced all that the Bald Eagle Rendezvous had to offer, we headed a few blocks over to the Constitution Hall. This building was built in 1856 and is the oldest wooden building still standing in the state of Kansas
There is some great history here and our tour guide gave us all of the interesting details. He showed the boys a text book that they would likely have in the next few years, as it's the Kansas History book used in every public school in the state. He found the page that taught about Constitution Hall and even found himself in the picture!
This Hall is where the Lecompton Constitution was drafted and signed. This constitution would have admitted Kansas to the union as a slave state. Of course, this was ultimately rejected and "Bleeding Kansas" was admitted as a free state as the Civil War was beginning.
The second floor of the building housed the Assembly Room, where the legislature met and the pro-slavery constitution was written.
The first floor operated as the "Land Office" and this is where people would come to claim and secure land in the Kansas Territory. They still had original books and maps on the desk!
There were other fun artifacts on display, like the "Beecher's Bibles" aka guns that were shipped to free Kansas across slave states disguised as Bibles.
I really enjoyed looking over the original map of Douglas County from the Kansas territory days (pre-1861) as well as a more current map showing all of the historic houses and buildings still standing. Lecompton is in the northwest corner, and our house is in the southeast corner of our county.
We were all a little creeped-out when we peeked in the old jail and found a prisoner sleeping.
Constitution Hall was really cool! From there we went on to the Territorial Capital Museum. This building was supposed to be the site of a beautiful capitol building, but money ran out and the free state legislators were gaining control, so the building process was cut short. They ended up finishing the building as Lane University in 1882.
As it was approaching lunch time, I promised the boys we wouldn't have to spend long in this museum, but the sweet little volunteer tour guide had other plans :) She wanted us to get the FULL experience and we sure did!
The most interesting part of this building to me was the chapel upstairs. First of all, it was so much bigger than I would've expected in a building this size, and secondly, this is where President Eisenhower's parents were married! They met as students at Lane University in the same building in 1885. Today, there are still weddings at this chapel as well as re-enactments of Civil War debates.
They had some beautiful paintings on display, like this one of a rally at Constitution Hall when Kansas was still the focus of the country's slavery debates.
The Seal of the Kansas Territory with its motto, "Populi Voce Nata" or "Born by the Voice of the People."
We love to see water on our JM&MB days, and as we were so close to the Kansas River, we took a little hike down to see it. It was looking pretty full with all of the recent rain.
I think we saw all there was to see in the "Civil War Birth Place Where Slavery Began to Die." I'm so glad we were able to tour this interesting and historic city!
We ate a late lunch and I let the boys choose, so B-Dubs it is! It was an extra good lunch because it was free! I didn't realize they had a "15 minute lunch guarantee" and we were having so much fun, we didn't even realize we'd waited over 15 minutes. Bonus!
Then Oliver really wanted to go to the pet store. Ever since we went last summer and he got to hold a parakeet, he's been begging to get one of his own. I told him we could look, and this was his favorite. He is kinda cute.
Calvin started admiring the fish and asked if he could get one, to which I immediately answered "no."
When he went on to explain that they only cost $0.14, I relented. This kid was so excited to bring home his new goldfish, Comet!
Oliver brought home all sorts of information on proper care of parakeets. I told him if he still wanted one in two months when his birthday comes around, we may consider it. He's convinced that his life will not be complete without a parakeet in it!
We had another wonderful JM&MB day! We learned some great Civil War history, ate some delicious (and free!) lunch, and brought home a new fish friend! Love these boys so much!!
