Landmarks/Sculptures
A life-size bronze statue depicting Chief Charles Bluejacket -
a Shawnee Indian Chief, minister and farmer in the town's early
days has been created by the artist Charles Goslin and placed on
the northeast corner of Johnson Drive and Cody, Herman Laird Park.
Chris Fangro built the jail in 1843. Legend has it that
Mr. Fangro celebrated too much after the completion of the building and had to be locked
up, making the builder the jail’s first prisoner. It was located at what is now the
west side of Nieman Road, north of the Shawnee City Hall. In 1966 the Vita Craft
Corporation wanted to expand which required moving the jail to prevent its demolition. A
group of concerned citizens joined together, forming the Shawnee Historical Society, and
moved the jail to its present home in Old Shawnee Town.
This sculpture to honor America’s Veterans was designed
by Maurice "Mac" McMullen and dedicated in November 1992. The red granite
obelisks and the bronze globe represent "the hands of all American Veterans striving
to hold the world aloft in freedom." The Rotary "Lending a Hand" statue was erected on the southwest corner
of 71st and Quivira in Listowel Park in August 2004. It sits on a
granite base that includes a plaque with the Rotarian "4-Way Test."
The test is a 24-word guide that promotes the mission of the organization.
This outdoor museum site was established in 1966 when a group
of concerned citizens banded together to save the First Territorial Jail. They began a
partnership with the City of Shawnee and moved the jail to the city’s Bluejacket
Park. After moving that initial building, the Shawnee Historical Society moved six more
buildings and built twelve. Each building houses artifacts that date from approximately
1840-1920.
 Although the City of Shawnee was incorporated in 1856, the
current city hall was built in 1989. Prior to the new building, the city operated out of a
9,000 square feet building that was constructed in 1961. It was located on city parkland
where a bandstand once stood. The new city hall building was expanded to 30,000 square
feet and had a beautiful facelift.
The Shawnee Indian Prayer Wheel along the walking trail on Blackfish
Parkway is one of Charles Goslin's works.
Chartered as the Shawnee State Savings Bank in 1908, the
bank did not have its own building until 1909. In October of 1909 a site at the corner of
Johnson Drive and Nieman Road was purchased for $850 and the building was constructed for
an additional $1,850. The statement of the bank’s first year showed that it had
$10,000 in capital and $8,100 in deposits.
In 1824 Chris Fangro built his home in Gum Springs. It was
located along the trail, which is presently 57th street and Nieman Road. It was built with
hand pressed bricks, native stone and walnut floors and beams. It was partially destroyed
during William Quantrill’s raid in 1862. It was rebuilt and restored for use as a
Wells Fargo Express Office. It operated along the United States Government trails from
Fort Leavenworth to Fort Scott and on to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Today it is part of Calkins
Electric Company.
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