Kansas Sites

This small stone obelisk marks the point where Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri meet. It was erected by the National Youth Administration in 1938. It is located at the coordinates marked here, south of the Route 166 round-about at the entrance to an Oklahoma Casino, just south of the main entrance on a dirt road.

The Works Progress Administration built facilities at Van Doren Park in Bird City, Kansas. The park buildings were constructed with stone from Beaver Creek and the Kuhrt Ranch quarry.      

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Wakefield Public Library in Wakefield, Kansas in 1938. The library is still in use.

The local high school received a $15,000 CWA football stadium in 1934. The stadium is not located on the school property, but rather a few blocks away in Wallace Park. While the site no longer functions as a football stadium, the stone bleachers are still standing, and now overlook two baseball diamonds.

Washington School was built with the funding of the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The Art Moderne concrete school built to replace the Longfellow and Frances Willard schools. It was in use until 2011. Notable features include murals depicting Longfellow and Willard and a basement bicycle garage.

A water disposal plant in Sabetha, Kansas was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a $10,500 grant for the project, whose total cost was $37,776. Construction occurred between Jul. and Dec. 1934. The location and status of this facility is unknown to Living New Deal. (PWA Docket No. KS 2119)

A water main construction project was undertaken in McPherson, Kansas with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied an $11,461 grant toward the $40,585 total cost of the project. Work occurred between December 1933 and October 1934. (PWA Docket No. KS 1077)

A water main construction project was undertaken in Oakley, Kansas with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. (PWA Docket No. KS 1394)

A water main construction project was undertaken in WaKeeney, Kansas with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction occurred between November 1934 and January 1935. (PWA Docket No. KS 2118)

A waterworks construction project in Gardner, Kansas was undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $13,372 grant toward the $52,009 total cost of the project. Work occurred between January 1934 and February 1936. (PWA Docket No. KS 1344)

A waterworks construction project in Geneseo, Kansas was undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $32,000 loan and $13,595 grant toward the $50,013 total cost of the project. Work occurred between October 1934 and April 1935. (PWA Docket No. KS 1349)

Two water system construction projects: one for a water tank and another for water mains in Valley Falls, Kansas were undertaken as federal Public Works Administration (PWA) projects. Water main, PWA Docket No. Kan. 1108: The PWA provided an $8,590 grant for the project, whose total cost was $19,382. Construction started in Dec. 1935 and was completed in Mar. 1936. Water tank: PWA Docket No. Kan. 1417: The PWA provided a $3,713 grant for the project, whose total cost was $9,089. Construction started in Oct. 1938 and was completed in Jan. 1939. The status and locations of the projects are presently unknown to...

A waterworks improvement project in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas were undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. Work occurred between July and September 1934. (PWA Docket No. KS 3576)

Multiple waterworks improvement and construction projects in Lawrence, Kansas were undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. (PWA Docket No. KS 1365, 2115)

A waterworks improvement project in Linn, Kansas were undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a loan of $22,000 and grant of $9,246 toward the $31,462 total cost of the project. Construction occurred between August 1934 and June 1935. (PWA Docket No. KS 2710)

Multiple waterworks improvement projects in Salina, Kansas were enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. In addition to laying water mains, a pumping station was constructed as part of these efforts, which began as early as 1933. (PWA Docket No. KS 2739, 2928)

A sizable waterworks improvement project in Sedan, Kansas were undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a loan of $69,600 and grant of $20,554 toward the project, whose final cost was $92,055. Work occurred between November 1934 and May 1935. (PWA Docket No. KS 3595)

A water tank in Horton, Kansas was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The PWA supplied a $8,820 grant for the project, whose total cost was $19,504. Construction occurred between Oct. 1938 and Jan. 1939. The location and status of this project is currently unknown to Living New Deal. PWA Docket No. 1452

The Work Projects Administration (WPA) constructed a distinctive octagonal, concrete water tower in Barnard, Kansas. It was located east of Main Street between Church Ave. and Mills Ave. Conflicting sources state that the water tower was completed in either 1937, 1941, or 1942 (with historic articles seeming to suggest the latter, per Barnard Banter). Articles, Google Street View, and satellite imagery suggest that the historic water tower was demolished and replaced with a new structure at the same location in 2013.

A waterworks development project in Copeland, Kansas was undertaken in 1934 with Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds. P.W.A. Docket No. Kansas 4309

A waterworks construction project in McLouth, Kansas was undertaken during the Great Depression as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The PWA provided a $26,000 loan and $21,086 grant for the project, whose total cost was $47,237. Construction started in Oct. 1936 and was completed in Aug. 1937. The status and location of the project are presently unknown to Living New Deal; however, it is likely that the water tower located at the northwest corner of the intersection of W Lake St. and Summit St. was a part of the project. PWA Docket No. Kan. 1143.

A waterworks improvement project in Kismet, Kansas was undertaken in 1937 with Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds. P.W.A. Docket No. Kansas 1195

Now officially Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, what was originally Wichita Municipal Airport was improved and developed by the W.P.A. during the 1930s. Improvement work included paving the runways.

Originally called the Auditorium and Commons Building, this 553-seat auditorium was built in 1938 with Public Works Administration funding. It's named for George Wilner, the first head of Wichita State's speech and theater department. It is still in use.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the Civic Auditorium, now known as William L. White Auditorium, in Emporia KS. The structure's current usage is mostly as a basketball arena, but it also houses graduations, shows, concerts, etc.

Woodson State Fishing Lake was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps near Toronto KS.

The massive dam that impounds Wyandotte County Lake was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). "The construction of the Wyandotte County Lake (Marshall Creek) Dam began as a WPA project in 1936. On September 19,1937, with the project 90% completed, the dam collapsed. After re-engineering the dam was rebuilt ..." Facts and Figures (from county website): The dam is rolled earth core with hydraulic fill sand shell. The length of the dam is 1700 feet. Base width is 1000 feet. Crest width is 30 feet. The original depth after construction was 84 feet by the dam. Spillway length is 279 feet...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) created Wyandotte County Lake by constructing the dam that impounds the lake. The surrounding park received numerous WPA-constructed buildings. Work lasted several years, from 1936 to 1942. Located in the Missouri basin, the dam was built to create jobs while at the same time providing a source of water for the community. The lake and surrounding area compose the Wyandotte County Lake Park.  It was funded jointly by the WPA and the Wyandotte County government. Several extant park buildings, such as the Davis Recreation Hall, were designed by the National Park Service and built by the Works...

Wyandotte County Lake Park's rustic boathouse is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. The building features "architectural flourishes" such as the distinctive lamps.

The polygonal gazebo / overlook shelter at the Boy Scout Camp in Wyandotte County Lake Park’s is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. Currently only the base stonework of the structure remains.

The circumferential road encompassing Wyandotte County Lake features 20 culverts, believed to be among the many Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park.

Wyandotte County Lake Park's James P. Davis is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. The structure was designed to complement its natural surroundings while resembling "lodges from the western national parks."

Wyandotte County Lake Park's historic lake house (and associated buildings, including a stable) is among the numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. While reputedly still extant, the location of the lake house facility is unknown to Living New Deal.

The North Entrance Lodge of Wyandotte County Lake Park was one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. The National Parks Rustic-style building was designed to complement its natural surroundings. However, the building "has deteriorated to the point of ruins." It can still be found along the entrance road off N 93rd Street.

The outlet tower associated with the Wyandotte County Lake dam is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. Dave McDermott writes: "In contract to the other original park buildings, the tower is built of smooth concrete, in an efficient, modernist style, with none of the rustic attributes seen elsewhere in the park."

The circumferential road encompassing Wyandotte County Lake was surfaced by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The historic road surface is no longer visible.

The polygonal gazebo / overlook shelter located near Shelter 11 at Wyandotte County Lake Park’s is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. It is also known as the East Lookout Shelter.

Wyandotte County Lake Park's Shelter 3 is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. The structure features a stone fireplace.

Wyandotte County Lake Park's gorgeous stone Shelter 7 is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. "Shelter 7 ... designed with stone bases and battered stone walls. This creates the visual effect of a structure that is anchored to its natural setting and that seems to almost have grown from it."

Wyandotte County Lake Park’s Shelter 9 is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. The structure features a stone fireplace.