Tonganoxie Community Historical Society’s October program focusing on railroad industry’s impact on Kansas
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A Kansas Pacific Cattle Train is pictured in 1873.Tonganoxie Community Historical Society will have its Fourth Tuesday program for October about the railroad industry and how it shaped the Sunflower State.
The meeting will be 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the historical museum site, 201 W. Washington St.
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The Union Pacific Depot in Tonganoxie under construction in this photo.
The event begins with a brief business meeting and then the historical program, which Humanities Kansas sponsors.
TCHS will host Leo Oliva for his program “Railroaded: The Industry that Shaped Kansas.”
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Leo Oliva, who has taught history at Fort Hays State University, writes weekly newspaper column called “Our Kansas Heritage.” He also edited the SAnta Fe Association quarterly “Wagon Tracks” for 25 years.
Railroads brought immigrant settlers to Kansas, created jobs and helped feed beef markets in the East. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time. Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, yet the advancement of the railroad industry came at a substantial cost to the Indigenous Tribes of the Plains. This program will explore the complicated legacy of the railroads in Kansas.
Oliva has taught history at Fort Hays State University. He has written a dozen books, including several in the Kansas Forts Network series. He has published more than a hundred articles, mostly about Kansas history. Leo wrote a weekly newspaper column, “Our Kansas Heritage,” for 22 years. He also edited the Santa Fe Association quarterly “Wagon Tracks” for 25 years.
All are welcome for this free program. Refreshments will be served after the program.