 The building known as Constitution Hall was built by Samuel Jones in 1856. The lower floor served as the United States Lans Office and the upper floor was the occasional seat of the District Court, as well as being used by the Proslavery Kansas Territorial Legislature in 1857. In January of that year, the second territorial legislative assembly met in this hall. On October 19, the Lecompton Constitutional Convention met and drafted a pro-slavery constitution which would be used for obtaining Kansas statehood. The document would have protected slavery no matter how the people of Kansas Territory voted, but it was defeated at the national level and never went into effect. Today the first floor of Lecompton Constitution Hall has a small gift shop and a modest museum about the building's use as a Land Office. The upper floor has a few displays but is mostly still used as a meeting hall. Special history related events are often held here on Sunday afternoons. The building is currently being restored and may contain more in the future, but at this time, requires just a few minutes to visit. Operated by the Kansas State Historical Society.
Lecompton
Constitution Hall website
copyright 2006-2008 by Keith Stokes |
