KSHPO - Kansas State Historic Preservation Office

KSHPO - Kansas State Historic Preservation Office 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099
785-272-8681
kshs.org/shpo Our offices are located at the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka.

The Kansas State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) fosters the preservation of the archeological, architectural, and cultural heritage of Kansas. We do this by administering historic preservation programs and offering technical assistance to those restoring or rehabilitating historic properties or engaging in archeological research. Properties featured on this page are not always open to the pub

lic or visible from the public right-of-way. Always ask permission before accessing someone's private property.

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 29 is Oak Apple Day. Bring a shiny one for Teacher at the Oak Grove School in Saint Pau...
05/28/2026

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 29 is Oak Apple Day. Bring a shiny one for Teacher at the Oak Grove School in Saint Paul, Neosho County.

The Oak Grove School is a single-story, one-room stone schoolhouse built in 1877. The school is located within Lincoln Township, Neosho County, Kansas and is surrounded by farmland on the east and south sides, the one-acre the Oak Grove Cemetery to the west, and 20th Road on the north. The building sits parallel to the road and faces east. Typical of early one-room schoolhouses, it features a simple rectangular form with a gabled roof. The walls of the building are solid native sandstone (from the “Bandera” geologic formation) quarried locally from a site that lies about one quarter mile north of the school.

Bearing no specific stylistic references, the building is classified as a late 19th century American movement “vernacular” one-room school, and retains a high degree of historical integrity. It has experienced minimal architectural modification since its original construction and remains situated on its original site. Alterations that have occurred include the addition of a front porch (1913), a bell cupola (since removed), and an architecturally-consistent coal room at the rear (1937). These changes were all done within the period of significance and in keeping with the school’s original design, workmanship, and materials. The nominated property contains three contributing resources: 1877 school building, ca. 1895 flagpole, and a ca. 1897 cistern.

State Rehabilitation Tax Credits were earned for work on interior finishes and mechanical systems. Learn more about the Oak Grove School, and read the informative National Register nomination, in the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=045-3010-00793

There is only a week, and a half left to apply for the Historic Preservation Fund Grant! Applications due Friday June 5t...
05/27/2026

There is only a week, and a half left to apply for the Historic Preservation Fund Grant! Applications due Friday June 5th! Hurry and apply on our website before it's too late! https://www.kansashistory.gov/14615

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May is Small Business Month. Small and mighty at 811 5th Street in Clay Center, Clay County...
05/26/2026

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May is Small Business Month. Small and mighty at 811 5th Street in Clay Center, Clay County.

This modest building sports a surviving decorative cornice and stone-hooded and -silled window openings. This address first appears on the 1899 Sanborn map as a dealership for “Agricultural Implements and Buggies”. Later maps list an office with a separate address at 809, and indicate that the building's interior had wood posts and a metal ceiling. The 1917 Sanborn lists the building as a garage with a capacity of 25 cars, storage of auto parts on the 2nd floor, cement floor and electric lights.

Federal and state tax credits have been earned for a substantial rehabilitation for continued commercial use. The address now houses The Happy Hippie, where one can find smoothies, yoga and more. Learn more about 811 5th Street in the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=027-208

This week, SHPO staff had the opportunity to attend a public planning session for the Quindaro Neighborhood in Kansas Ci...
05/22/2026

This week, SHPO staff had the opportunity to attend a public planning session for the Quindaro Neighborhood in Kansas City, KS. The meeting was held in the Vernon Multipurpose Center VMPC also known as the historic Vernon School. A Heritage Trust Fund grant from Kansas SHPO is helping to restore the front doors, while a HER grant from the National Park Service is assisting with other preservation work.

More about the Vernon School - https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=209-2820-02030

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 21 is National Waitstaff Day. Leave a good tip at the Anderson Building in Lawrence, Do...
05/21/2026

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 21 is National Waitstaff Day. Leave a good tip at the Anderson Building in Lawrence, Douglas County.

This two-part commercial block building opened in 1866 and was revised in 1919. It shows simple geometric detailing typical of Early Twentieth Century Commercial buildings. The hard-fired red and multi-colored brick facade has two pairs of 1/1 double hung windows with raised brick header sills on the second story. The lintel is comprised of vertical brick stretchers. A large rectangular panel is above, formed by a raised course of brick headers. Centered within is a stone plaque with the name "ANDERSON". The cornice area has three courses of projecting bricks. The stepped parapet roof has stone coping. The storefront has a recessed centered entry front flanked by large display windows with brick bulkheads, steel lintels, and three large transom windows above. It currently houses the 715 Restaurant.

State Rehabilitation Tax Credits were earned for preservation treatments on the exterior and interior of the building. Learn more about the Anderson Building in the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=045-3010-00793

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 19 is World Family Doctor Day. Open wide and say “ahh” at Saint Margaret's Hospital in ...
05/19/2026

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 19 is World Family Doctor Day. Open wide and say “ahh” at Saint Margaret's Hospital in Kansas City, Wyandotte County.

Built in 1954 Saint Margaret’s Hospital exhibits Modern Movement architectural treatments, including masonry banding and rectangular massing. A series of connected rectangular wings of variable heights forms the hospital. This building replaced a sprawling hospital complex begun in 1887. The 1954 construction project retained the 1910 front east wing of the old hospital but renovated it extensively to match the new building. The project also retained the 1947 wing at the rear of the complex that once housed the boiler and laundry facilities.

Buff-colored brick clads the walls of each elevation. Narrow limestone blocks frame horizontal bands that run the length of each façade. Dark brown brick fills the wall area between the windows within the limestone frame, contrasting with the buff-colored field brick. Vertical bands with similar materials identify stairwells. The chapel has tall, narrow two-story windows punched in the buff brick walls on the east and west elevations. The canted concrete roof deck overhangs the top of the wall along the east elevation. Solid limestone panels clad the north elevations of both front wings. A relief carving of Saint Margaret and her hound is featured on the west (chapel) wing. A three-story metal Christian cross is mounted to the limestone on the east wing. Regular fenestration pierces each elevation.

Federal tax credits have been earned for a substantial rehabilitation for multi-family housing. Learn more about Saint Margaret's Hospital, and read the interesting National Register nomination, in the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=209-2441

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 14 is National Underground America Day. It’s not -quite- spelunking at the Wolf Hotel i...
05/14/2026

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 14 is National Underground America Day. It’s not -quite- spelunking at the Wolf Hotel in Ellinwood, Barton County.

The 1894 hotel building is a two-part commercial block with full fenestration on both levels. A corbelled brick and limestone string course separates the two stories below the second level windowsills. Tall, arched windows with 1/1 double hung sash fenestrate the building. Corbelled arched lintels surmount the windows, limestone sills underscore them. The second level window groups are recessed and flanked by plain brick pilasters. Two double unit plate glass windows fenestrate the west and south/southeast first floor elevations. The windows are framed with cast iron. A pressed metal cornice projects from the building, above a corbelled frieze. An arched and corbelled doorway stands in the beveled 45 degree angled southwest elevation, providing entry to the original bank space. The double doors are surmounted by a rectangular transom. A second, more modest arched door stands in the southern elevation, this was the entrance to the hotel.

From 1887 to about 1920, a whole community existed underneath Ellinwood’s sidewalks — a labyrinth of tunnels and businesses, primarily for men, accessed through businesses like the Hotel. In today’s terms, it was the ultimate man cave. As the railroads took over, jobs for cowboys and teamsters declined, and underground Ellinwood became less active. Initially, the tunnels ran under two blocks of Main Street, on both sides of the street. In addition to the harness shop and other services, the tunnels were home to a bootmaker shop, 11 saloons and, it is rumored, a brothel.

State Rehabilitation Tax Credits have been earned for preservation treatments on the exterior and interior of the building. Learn more about the Wolf Hotel and read the informative National Register nomination in the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=009-1590-00010

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 12 is National Limerick Day. This story’s important to hear, so we ask you to draw some...
05/12/2026

WHAT’S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS – May 12 is National Limerick Day. This story’s important to hear, so we ask you to draw somewhat near: it’s one of our faves and we’re glad it’s been saved, and the details below make ‘why’ clear; at the Limerick Block in Alma, Wabaunsee County.

This is a two-story rectangular limestone building with the entrance canted on the corner. Two short marble columns flank the entrance, and the windows are arched with stone lintels. The upper part of building has a parapet wall and orange cornice.

The Limerick building was constructed in 1890 and originally housed the Bank of Alma that J. F. Limerick owned with his brother, G.W. Limerick of Wamego. The building was also known as the Limerick and Crafts block, as druggist, Fred Crafts, joined the building venture and operated his drug store in the south building in the structure. The Limerick brothers also owned a land office, insurance business, a brokerage business, and a coal mining enterprise.

Federal and state tax credits have been earned for masonry repair, interior finishes and mechanical systems work. Learn more about the Limerick Block in the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=197-0100-00003

The Historic Preservation Fund Grant is now open! Look at eligible project types and apply today on our website: https:/...
05/12/2026

The Historic Preservation Fund Grant is now open! Look at eligible project types and apply today on our website: https://www.kansashistory.gov/14615
Applications must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. (noon) June 5, 2026.

Address

6425 SW 6th Avenue
Topeka, KS
66615

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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