Native American Heritage Museum SHS
Native American Heritage Museum SHS
Location: From Highland, go 2 miles East, then 1/4 mile North (follow the signs).
Nearest Town: Highland
Contact: 785/442-3304
Fee: Donations appreciated
Photos Copyright Harland J. Schuster. Please do not use without permission.
Established
in 1837, the Iowa, Sac & Fox Mission was an attempt by the
Presbyterian church to provide education to the three tribes of Indians who
where moved to the area. The present building was completed in 1846, and
is constructed of brick manufactured on the site. The school was never
a big success, but a cholera outbreak among the Indians living near the school
in 1849, followed by a small pox outbreak in 1850 caused the Indians to shun the
mission even more. Built to accommodate 100 students, the three story
structure had no more than 60 students at it's peak. In 1860, it became
the Orphan Indian Institute. This too failed. By 1863 the mission
was inactive, and in 1868 the building was sold. Eventually, it became the
property of the state of Kansas, and in 1963 the Kansas State Historical Society
began administering the site as a museum. Several years ago, the museum
underwent major updating, and it now has displays about the history of local
Indian tribes.
Sometimes,
it's easy to forget that the time the White Man has inhabited
Kansas is but a brief portion of the total picture of civilization here.
The museum strives to fill in this gap with some very informative displays.
Present-day Native Americans helped in many ways to make this interpretation of
their past a reality.
Of course, also on display are items used here when the building was used as a school for the Indian children so long ago. This, too, is part of the story of the Indians in Kansas.
A missionary family serving at the Highland Mission, circa 1850's. (Photo Courtesy of the Native American History Museum.) The Highland Mission was one of many such Indian Missions built in Kansas between 1820 and 1860. Most, like the one at Highland, were unsuccessful.
The mission was located on a branch of the Oregon trail. Evidence of the ditch caused by the wagon ruts is still visible today as this tree filled depression.