Historic Monticello Driving
and Biking Tour
 

(913) 667-3706

Wild Bill Hickok   Monticello Museum Map

Monticello Historical Station and Museum - Shawnee, Kansas
Monticello Historical Station and Museum
Monticello Fire Station & Township Hall (1975-1988) - Shawnee, Kansas
Monticello Township, Kansas was founded in 1857 at the crossroads of Territorial Road No. 5 and the Midland Trail. It grew until the 1870s when the railroad came through to the east. The post office closed in 1905 and the township was finally divided and annexed by the communities of Lenexa, Shawnee, Bonner Springs and Olathe in 1988.

The Monticello Community Historical Society organized that same year and incorporated 11 years later. The Society operated the Monticello Historical Station and Museum in the hall which was built to house the township fire station in 1974. The museum closed in 2025, but the historical society continues to host programs at the Monticello United Methodist Church.

The Monticello Community Historical Society organized the Historic Monticello Driving and Biking Tour of interesting sites from the former township.

It was from the driving and biking tour that we learned that Wild Bill Hickok Park in what is now Lenexa occupies a small portion of the land which Hickok claimed in 1857. Hickok was elected as one of the 4 constables of Monticello Township at the age of 20 on March 22, 1858. He also served in the Free-State Army and his cabin was burned by pro-slavery men in late 1858. He abandoned his claim and left Johnson County in 1859.

Wild Bill Hickok
James B. "Wild Bill" Hickok

Monticello Volunteer Fire Department fire truck
The fire station & township hall was turned into the Monticello Historical Station & Museum which closed in 2025

Monticello United Methodist Church - Shawnee, Kansas
Monticello United Methodist Church (1894), 23860 West 75th Street, Shawnee, Kansas

Wild Bill Hickok Park - Lenexa, Kansas
Wild Bill Hickok Park, 8649 Clare Road, Lenexa, Kansas 66227

Monticello Cemetery - Shawnee, Kansas
Monticello Cemetery - the stone at the left is the oldest legible grave marker in the cemetery.
"Clara B. Daughter of J.S. & J.A. McFadden died Dec 29, 1866. Aged 13 years 5 months 24 days"

Monticello Townsite Township Hall - Shawnee, Kansas
Monticello Townsite - Township Hall (1918) West 71st Terrace and Brockway, Shawnee
Privately owned

Monticello Historical Museum Map - Shawnee, Kansas
Map to Wild Bill Hickok Park

Monticello Community Historical Society website
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copyright 2015-2025 by Keith Stokes