WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL &
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Address 216 Ballard Street
Washington, Kansas 66968Phone 785-325-2198
Fax 785-325-2198
E-mail wchgs31@hotmail.com
MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOURS
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Other times by appointment
Administration
Board of Directors
Volunteer Staff
Membership & Research Rates
Historic Properties
Museum
Family History Center
Sheriff's Residence & Jail
One-Room School House
Museum's Historical Collections
Luebs Camera Collection
Pony Express & Trails Room
Otwell Broom Factory
Genealogy On Line
Alien Registration Index
Local Cemeteries
Naturalization Papers
Pioneer Roster
County Histories
Old Oregon Trail
Mark Twain at Hollenberg Ranch
Historic Washington County
As civilization moved west in the 1800s, many of the great trails crossed Washington County -- the Oregon-California Trail, the Overland Trail, the Pony Express, the Parallel Road to the Colorado gold mines, the Fort Kearney-Fort Riley Military Roads and the Mormon Trails. Many of these trails followed some of the plains Indian trails which crisscrossed the area.
Some historians contend that Coronado and his Spanish expedition from Mexico marched through the state and crossed the Little Blue River near the northern boundary of Washington County in 1542. The first recorded settlers of Washington County arrived in 1857.
Washington County was organized in 1860 and named in honor of the first President of the United States, George Washington.
Historic County Sites
1856 Surveyor's Monument -- near Mahaska; the survey point for five states, at the 40th parallel. A new monument was dedicated in 1987.
1857 California/Oregon Trail and Hollenberg Pony Express Station -- near Hanover. This is the only unaltered pony express station still in existence. It stands at its original location. It is a Kansas State Historic Site.
1877 R.R. Depot -- Clifton Community Historical Society and Museum, Clifton.
1880 Log Cabin -- Washington City Park.
1899 Sheriff's Residence and Jail -- 23 "C" St., Washington. Listed on the National Historic Register.
1901 Jail -- Haddam.
1925 Jail -- Greenleaf.
1925 World's First Bulldozer -- Morrowville. A replica of the original is displayed in Cummings Park in Morrowville, one block west of Highway 15 on Main Street between Walnut and Oak Streets.
1932 Washington County Courthouse -- Washington. Listed on the National Historic Register.
Barnes Bank Building -- Barnes.
Washington County Kingpost Bridge -- Barnes. Listed on the National Historic Register.
Herrs Car and Truck Museum -- Washington.
Morman Springs Monument -- Highway 15 South, Washington
Horse Soldier Monument - Washington County Courthouse Lawn, Washington