The Civil War Muse

The Bogus Legislature

Tour Stop

Directions: The Bogus Legislature met in the East Building at the Shawnee Indian Mission [ Waypoint = N39 01.963 W94 37.475 ], currently part of the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site [ Waypoint = N39 01.969 W94 37.447 ] and located at 3403 West 53rd Street in Fairway, Kansas 66205.

• From the Marais des Cygnes Massacre Memorial, return to the on ramp for US Highway 69 heading north towards Kansas City.
• After about 51 miles, you will merge onto I-35 North.
• After about 2.7 miles, take exit 228B to head east on Shawnee Mission Parkway (US Highway 56 / US Highway 69).
• After about 4 miles, turn left (north) onto Falmouth Street.
• After about 0.2 miles, turn left (west) onto W 53rd Street.
• There is a parking area [ Waypoint = N39 01.969 W94 37.447 ] just ahead on your left.

Description: You are standing at the site of The Shawnee Methodist Mission. Back in October 1839, the Reverend Thomas Johnson , a Methodist minister, moved the location of The Shawnee Methodist Mission from Turner, Kansas to this site. The West Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.968 W94 37.522 ] was built in 1839. The East Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.963 W94 37.475 ] was built in 1841 and the North Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.997 W94 37.515 ] was built in 1845. When the Kansas Territory was established in 1854, the first Territorial Governor, Andrew Reeder, located his offices in the North Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.997 W94 37.515 ].

The first legislative elections were held in the Kansas Territory on March 30, 1855, and thousands of Missourians crossed the border on election day to vote for pro-slavery candidates. Thirty-four out of the 35 seats were won by pro-slavery candidates. Although Territorial Governor Reeder would invalidate a small number of the election results, the First Kansas Territorial Legislature would meet on July 2, 1855 in Pawnee, Kansas (near present day Fort Riley, Kansas 66442). Free-state leaders branded them “The Bogus Legislature.”

Governor Reeder had selected Pawnee as the Territorial Capital, in part, because he wanted to minimize the influence of neighboring Missourians. He also had a financial interest in property there. Pawnee was located 150 miles west of the Missouri border. The pro-slavery legislature wanted to be closer to the Missouri border and voted to move the capital to the Shawnee Methodist Mission. Governor Reeder vetoed the legislation but his veto was overridden. The legislature adjourned on July 6th and reconvened at the Shawnee Methodist Mission in the East Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.963 W94 37.475 ] on July 16th. It was during this legislative session that the so-called "bogus laws" were passed in an attempt to perpetuate slavery in Kansas.

The historical marker at the West Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.968 W94 37.522 ] has the following text: This is the oldest of the three mission buildings now standing. Built in 1839 it was used for classrooms and living quarters for superintendents and teachers. Territorial officials had offices and rooms here in 1854 – 1856.
The historical marker at the East Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.963 W94 37.475 ] has the following text: Erected in 1840-41; provided a chapel and classrooms, and living quarters for teachers. Indian boys slept in the attic. The first territorial legislature met here in 1855 and enacted the so-called Bogus Laws in an attempt to perpetuate slavery in Kansas.
The historical marker at the North Building [ Waypoint = N39 01.997 W94 37.515 ] has the following text: This building, erected in 1845, was the dormitory and school for Indian girls. Here they were taught spinning, weaving, and other domestic arts. Andrew H. Reeder, first territorial governor of Kansas, had executive offices here.

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