Pawnee, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Pawnee is a ghost town
in Geary County
, Kansas
, United States
, which served as the first official capital of the Kansas Territory
in 1855. Pawnee was the territorial capital for exactly five days – from July 2 to July 6, 1855 – before pro-slavery legislators voted to move the capital to Shawnee Mission
, which is located in present-day Fairway
. It is believed to be one of the shortest-lived capitals of any U.S. state or territory (tied with Old Colorado City
, although Colorado City was never federally recognized).
, and the U.S. Army post at Fort Riley
. Pawnee was selected as capital by Territorial Governor Andrew Reeder in May 1855, after an intense lobbying campaign by several settlements in Kansas Territory. Governor Reeder had an economic interest in selecting Pawnee, since he was a major landowner in the new settlement and had built himself a grand log house there.
The Territorial Legislature, which was composed mostly of pro-slavery delegates from the neighboring state of Missouri
, was incensed that Reeder had placed the capital 150 miles from the Missouri border. They felt that the location gave an advantage to the Free-State
advocates in Kansas Territory. So, one of the first actions the legislators took was a vote to move to the capital to Shawnee Mission
, on the Missouri border. Governor Reeder veto
ed the bill moving the capital, but the Territorial Legislature overrode the veto, and the legislators departed Pawnee on July 6. The territorial government reconvened in Shawnee on July 16, 1855.
, the Secretary of War
(and future President of the Confederate States of America
), decided to wipe-out the Free-State settlement entirely and ordered the borders of Fort Riley
expanded to overtake Pawnee. Most of the town was destroyed by the army subsequent to this order. Only the old capitol building
was spared at the location; it is now a museum on Fort Riley property.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Geary County
Geary County, Kansas
Geary County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 34,362. Its county seat and most populous city is Junction City. The county is named in honor of Governor John W. Geary...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which served as the first official capital of the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
in 1855. Pawnee was the territorial capital for exactly five days – from July 2 to July 6, 1855 – before pro-slavery legislators voted to move the capital to Shawnee Mission
Shawnee Methodist Mission
Shawnee Methodist Mission was a camp established by missionaries in 1830 to minister to the Shawnee tribe of Native Americans, relocated to its present location in 1839. It was also the second capital of the Kansas Territory, holding that designation from July 16, 1855, to the spring of 1856...
, which is located in present-day Fairway
Fairway, Kansas
Fairway is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. The population was 3,952 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fairway is located at...
. It is believed to be one of the shortest-lived capitals of any U.S. state or territory (tied with Old Colorado City
Old Colorado City
Old Colorado City, formerly Colorado City, is a national historic district in the city of Colorado Springs. Its approximate boundaries are U.S...
, although Colorado City was never federally recognized).
One week of glory
Pawnee was located on the far western frontier of newly-settled Kansas Territory, between the new settlement of Manhattan, KansasManhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
, and the U.S. Army post at Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
. Pawnee was selected as capital by Territorial Governor Andrew Reeder in May 1855, after an intense lobbying campaign by several settlements in Kansas Territory. Governor Reeder had an economic interest in selecting Pawnee, since he was a major landowner in the new settlement and had built himself a grand log house there.
The Territorial Legislature, which was composed mostly of pro-slavery delegates from the neighboring state of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, was incensed that Reeder had placed the capital 150 miles from the Missouri border. They felt that the location gave an advantage to the Free-State
Free-Stater
Free-Stater was the name given those settlers in Kansas Territory during the Bleeding Kansas era in the 1850s who opposed the extension of slavery to Kansas....
advocates in Kansas Territory. So, one of the first actions the legislators took was a vote to move to the capital to Shawnee Mission
Shawnee Methodist Mission
Shawnee Methodist Mission was a camp established by missionaries in 1830 to minister to the Shawnee tribe of Native Americans, relocated to its present location in 1839. It was also the second capital of the Kansas Territory, holding that designation from July 16, 1855, to the spring of 1856...
, on the Missouri border. Governor Reeder veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed the bill moving the capital, but the Territorial Legislature overrode the veto, and the legislators departed Pawnee on July 6. The territorial government reconvened in Shawnee on July 16, 1855.
The destruction of Pawnee
Soon after Pawnee lost its designation as capital, Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, the Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
(and future President of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
), decided to wipe-out the Free-State settlement entirely and ordered the borders of Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
expanded to overtake Pawnee. Most of the town was destroyed by the army subsequent to this order. Only the old capitol building
First Territorial Capitol of Kansas
The First Territorial Capitol of Kansas is the sole remaining building in Pawnee, Kansas. The town served as the capital city of the Kansas Territory for five days before it was moved to present day Fairway, Kansas and the town became part of Fort Riley...
was spared at the location; it is now a museum on Fort Riley property.