Historic Sites - Visit Atchison, Kansas

Atchison, Kansas boasts one of the finest collections of Victorian architecture in the Midwest. Founded in 1854, our city's streets are lined with magnificent homes, historic churches, and cultural landmarks that transport visitors back to a golden age. Walk through history and discover the stories that shaped this remarkable river city.

🏛️ National Register of Historic Places

Atchison is home to over 47 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, representing some of the finest examples of 19th-century architecture in Kansas. From grand Victorian mansions to historic commercial buildings, our city is a living museum of American history.

Historic Homes & Architecture

Victorian Home

Evah C. Cray Historical Home Museum

Step into the elegance of Victorian-era Atchison at the Evah C. Cray Historical Home. This beautifully preserved mansion showcases authentic period furnishings, original woodwork, and the refined lifestyle of a prominent 19th-century Atchison family.

📅 Victorian Era

🏛️ Period Furnishings

🎨 Guided Tours

Historic Mansion

Muchnic Art Gallery

This stunning 1885 Victorian mansion showcases the opulence of Atchison's gilded age. Now serving as an art gallery, visitors can admire both the magnificent architecture and rotating exhibitions of fine art.

📅 Built 1885

🎨 Art Gallery

🏛️ Victorian Era

Historic District

Downtown Historic District

Stroll through blocks of beautifully preserved 19th-century commercial buildings. The downtown area features stunning examples of Richardsonian Romanesque, Italianate, and Second Empire architecture.

🏛️ Multiple Styles

🛍️ Shopping

🍽️ Dining

Museums & Cultural Landmarks

Museum

Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum

Visit the birthplace of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. This beautiful Victorian home, built in 1861, has been lovingly restored and features exhibits about Amelia's life, her historic flights, and her enduring legacy.

✈️ Aviation History

🏛️ 1861 Home

📚 Museum

Museum

Atchison County Historical Society

Explore centuries of local history through fascinating exhibits, artifacts, and archives. The society preserves and shares the rich heritage of Atchison County and its role in shaping Kansas history.

📜 Archives

🏛️ Exhibits

📚 Research

Religious Heritage

Trinity Episcopal Church

One of Atchison's most iconic landmarks, Trinity Episcopal Church showcases stunning Gothic Revival architecture with magnificent stained glass windows, soaring spires, and intricate stonework. This historic church welcomes visitors to experience its architectural beauty and spiritual heritage.

⛪ Gothic Revival

🎨 Stained Glass

🏛️ National Register

Museum

Atchison Santa Fe Depot Museum

Step back in time at this beautifully restored 1880s Santa Fe Railroad depot. Discover Atchison's railroad heritage through exhibits, artifacts, and stories of the golden age of rail travel. The depot played a crucial role in the city's development.

🚂 Railroad History

🏛️ 1880s Building

📸 Photo Ops

Family Attraction

Miniature Train & Railroad Display

Kids and train enthusiasts love our miniature train ride and detailed railroad displays. Experience the charm of historic locomotives and learn about Atchison's important role in America's railroad expansion.

🚂 Train Rides

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Fun

📚 Educational

Experience History

*maps coming soon

Self-Guided Tour

Historic Walking Tours

Download our free walking tour maps and explore Atchison at your own pace. Multiple routes highlight Victorian homes, commercial architecture, and significant landmarks with detailed historical information.

🚶 Self-Guided

📱 Mobile Friendly

🆓 Free

Guided Tour

Historic Trolley Tours

Ride aboard our vintage-style trolley for a comprehensive guided tour of Atchison's historic districts. Knowledgeable guides share fascinating stories and point out architectural details you might miss on your own.

🚎 Guided Tour

⏱️ 90 Minutes

🎫 Bookable

Annual Event

Heritage Home Tours

Each year, private historic homes open their doors to the public during special heritage weekends. Tour beautifully preserved interiors, meet homeowners passionate about preservation, and see how history lives on.

🏠 Private Homes

📅 Annual

🎟️ Ticketed

Plan Your Historic Visit

Discover the stories, architecture, and heritage that make Atchison truly special

Need Help Planning? Contact Us →

🏛️ NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Atchison County, Kansas - Complete Registry

Data courtesy of the National Park Service (listings current through June 24, 2025)

A. J. Harwi Hardware Company Building
832 Commercial Street
Listed: June 7, 2021 | Commerce, Architecture

Atchison Santa Fe Freight Depot
200 S. Tenth St.
Listed: October 11, 2001 | Transportation, Architecture

Atchison County Courthouse
SW corner of 5th and Parallel Sts.
Listed: April 16, 1975 | Politics/Government, Architecture

Atchison County Memorial Hall
819 Commercial St.
Listed: April 18, 2007 | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture

Atchison Post Office
621 Kansas St.
Listed: March 16, 1972 | Architecture | State Significance

Atchison YMCA
325 Commercial St.
Listed: April 13, 2020 | Social History

Baker, Francis and Harriet, House
823 N. 5th St.
Listed: August 28, 2003 | Architecture

Benedictine College North Campus Historic Complex
2nd and Division Sts.
Listed: March 17, 1982 | Education, Architecture, Religion | State Significance

Bolman, George T. and Minnie Searles, House
418 N 4th St.
Listed: May 17, 2006 | Architecture

Braun, Henry, House
1307 Division St.
Listed: May 17, 2006 | Architecture

Brown, J. P., House
805 N. 4th St.
Listed: April 14, 1975 | Commerce, Architecture

Burnes Rental Houses Historic District
615, 617, and 621 N 3rd St.
Listed: December 6, 2005 | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement, Commerce

Campbell Chapel AME Church
715 Atchison St.
Listed: January 17, 2003 | Architecture, Black History, Social History

Central School
215 North 8th St.
Listed: May 9, 2022 | Architecture, Education | New Deal-Era Resource

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Freight Depot
118 South 2nd St.
Listed: January 4, 2023 | Transportation

Drimmel, John, Sr., Farm
16339 290th Rd.
Listed: May 20, 2004 | Architecture

17
Earhart, Amelia, Birthplace
223 N. Terrace
Listed: April 16, 1971 | Transportation | ⭐ NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Earhart, Amelia, Historic District
Multiple properties on 2nd St., North Terrace, 3rd St., and Santa Fe St.
Listed: February 1, 2002 | Architecture, Transportation

Ebenezer Baptist Church
826 Riley
Listed: November 30, 2005 | Architecture

Edmiston, James M., House
311 S 7th St.
Listed: May 17, 2006 | Architecture

Glancy/Pennell House
519 N. 5th St.
Listed: August 26, 1983 | Commerce, Architecture | Also known as Drury Tea Room

Glick-Orr House
503 N. Second St.
Listed: February 26, 1992 | Law

Harwi, A. J., House
1103 Atchison St.
Listed: May 6, 1975 | Commerce, Architecture

Hausner House
400 N. 3rd St.
Listed: December 6, 2005 | Architecture

Hetherington, W. W., House
805 N. 5th St.
Listed: July 12, 1974 | Commerce, Architecture

Horan, Michael J. and Mattie, House
822 N 4th St.
Listed: May 17, 2006 | Architecture

Howard, Frank, House
305 N. Terrace
Listed: October 15, 1984 | Architecture

Howe, Edgar W., House
1117 N. 3rd St.
Listed: March 16, 1972 | Literature | State Significance

Howe, Edgar W., House (Potato Hill)
20045 266th Rd.
Listed: June 7, 2021 | Architecture, Communications, Literature

Jansen House
806 N. 3rd St.
Listed: December 6, 2005 | Architecture

Julius Kuhn Block
731-733 Commercial Street, 106-110 North 8th Street
Listed: November 24, 2023 | Architecture, Commerce

Lanphear-Mitchell House
417 N. 4th St.
Listed: December 6, 2005 | Architecture

Lincoln School
801 Division St.
Listed: June 7, 2006 | Education | State Significance

Martin, John A., Grade School
507 Division
Listed: June 23, 2016 | Education, Architecture

McInteer Villa
1301 Kansas St.
Listed: March 26, 1975 | Commerce, Architecture

36
Mount St. Scholastica Convent
801 S. 8th St.
Listed: April 13, 1972 | Education, Architecture | State Significance

Mount Vernon Cemetery
6920 Rawlins Road
Listed: July 29, 2024 | Exploration/Settlement, Landscape Architecture | 39 acres

Muchnic, H. E., House
704 N. 4th St.
Listed: July 12, 1974 | Architecture

Pease, Robert L., House
203 N. 2nd St.
Listed: August 26, 1983 | Commerce, Architecture

Price Villa
801 S. 8th St.
Listed: March 16, 1972 | Architecture | State Significance

Ramsay, Ronald and Dorcas, House
1415 Riverview Dr.
Listed: June 7, 2006 | Architecture | State Significance

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
234th Rd. 2 mi. W of US 73
Listed: November 25, 1998 | Architecture

Stein, Frederick W., House
324 Santa Fe
Listed: January 14, 2004 | Architecture

44
Trinity Episcopal Church
300 S. 5th St.
Listed: April 4, 1985 | Architecture, Religion | State Significance

Waggener, B. P., House
819 N. 4th St.
Listed: May 3, 1974 | Politics/Government, Architecture

Waggener, Balie P., House
415 W. Riley St.
Listed: May 17, 2006 | Architecture

Wherrett-Mize Drug Company Building
201 Main St
Listed: July 6, 2010 | Commerce, Architecture

📊 Registry Summary: 47 properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Atchison County, with several districts containing multiple buildings. When counting individual structures within historic districts, the total exceeds 80 buildings.

⭐ Properties marked include sites of national or state significance