SHAWNEE INDIAN MISSION
STATE HISTORIC SITE

Earliest Know SIMLS photo

West building 1940

West Building, plaster damage and exposed masonry below stairwell window.

Earliest Know SIMLS photo

1/13

"This site is very important. I know the citizens of Fairway feel very strongly about the site. The Shawnee feel very strongly about the site. The site needs to be preserved. It needs to be maintained. I want to see it survive for another 150 years."

- Shawnee Chief Ben Barnes

An Overview

THIS LANDMARK IS IN DISTRESS:
READ THE SITE CONDITIONS REPORT

WRITE YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
& ENCOURAGE THEIR SUPPORT

VIEW OUR COMMITMENT
& SITE RESTORATION PLAN

SHARE OUR MISSION
WITH YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS

PHASED RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE SHAWNEE INDIAN MISSION

Our Mission

SITE IN DISTRESS

The Shawnee Indian Mission is an essential national landmark that has recorded some of the most significant moments in Kansas’ history and is a monument to the perseverance of all Indigenous peoples affected by this place. Due to inadequate funding and mismanagement over the years, this public treasure has fallen into deep physical distress, with only one of the two buildings open to the public. The Shawnee Tribe has designated the Mission as a sacred site and is committed to ensuring the site is properly preserved and protected.

To that end, the Tribe contracted a nationally renowned historic architecture firm, (NEED NAME), to perform a site condition assessment and develop a plan to restore the Shawnee Indian Mission. The Shawnee Tribe has extensive experience and meaningful partnerships in historic preservation, exhibition development, interpretation, and site management. The Tribe operates a fully staffed cultural center and maintains a roster of qualified experts, including archeologists, language experts, museum experts, and a Historic Preservation Office.

Shawnee Methodis Mission Conditions Assessment Report_2021.12.jpg

West Building, south door of foyer and stairs.

East Building, plaster and lath in the south end of the attic. Note graffiti scratched into the plaster.

IMPROVED OPERATION

All restoration and maintenance will be performed in partnership with other tribal nations with ties to this site, the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office, and Architectural Resources Group, which has extensive experience restoring significant landmarks across the nation.

IMPROVE OPERATION

The Shawnee Tribe is committed to keeping the Shawnee Indian Mission open to the public and operational exclusively as a historic site. The Tribe will replace the current one-person staff with a Kansas-based team and provide adequate resources so that the site can offer rich programs and activities, all while managing the grounds & facilities and ensuring the site is restored and maintained correctly.

7-YEAR PHASE RESTORATION PLAN

PHASE 1

CONVEYANCE, HISTORICAL STRUCTURE REPORT & CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT (YEARS 1 & 2)

Conveyance:

The Shawnee Tribe Business Council has committed to fully funding at least $15 million to carry out this restoration and revitalization plan, which is contingent on the conveyance of the site back to the Tribe.

Historic Structure Report (HSR):

Industry standards for stewardship of historic buildings begin with preparing an authoritative HSR documenting the history and physical characteristics of the site and its various historical uses.

Cultural Landscape Report (CLR):

The site warrants careful consideration of the full range of archaeological remains— including architectural remnants, agricultural features, and the potential for burials of Indigenous children and enslaved people/workers—that may be present.

PHASE 2

SITE STABILIZATION (YEAR 2)

The ARG Conditions Assessment Report recorded a range of deteriorating conditions at the site for which repair and treatment actions were developed, calling out “high,” “medium” and “low priority” repair and maintenance treatments. “High priority” recommendations indicate that deterioration is active, and treatment within 1-2 years is needed to prevent or slow the rate of deterioration and material loss. The large-scale exterior maintenance projects classified as “high priority” for the site will be the main focus of this phase.

PHASE 3

MASTER PLAN, INTERPRETIVE PLAN, NEW INTERPRETIVE INSTALLATION & CONTINUED SITE STABILIZATION (YEARS 3-7)

Master Plan:

The master plan study would outline the goals for the use of the cultural resource based on the input of the various stakeholders, then define an overall spatial layout of plans for the site.

Interpretive Plan:

The next step is developing an updated, accurate interpretation of the site that highlights its relevance to the history of the Shawnee people, and other tribal nations with ties to the site, it's prominent legacy as one of the earliest federally mandated Native American boarding schools, and the importance of the buildings from an architectural history perspective, as much of the historic fabric remains unaltered.

New Interpretive Installation:

The Tribe anticipates reimagining approximately 14,000 square feet for the new installation, including two floors in the North and East buildings and the ground floor in the West to use for educational exhibits.

West Building, plaster damage and exposed masonry below stairwell window.

Continued Site Stabilization:

Repair and maintenance treatments deemed “medium-” and “low priority” will be addressed in this Phase, along with the implementation of regular Maintenance and Inspection protocols.

LEADING HISTORIC PRESERVATION
EXPERTS AGREE

“BUT I’VE HEARD THAT…”

CLAIM:

“…the site will become tribal land.”

FACT:

“The long and short of it is that if the Shawnee Tribe purchases that land, they’re just another land owner."

Gary Pitchlynn, Adjunct Law Professor, Oklahoma University, an expert in tribal sovereignty and tribal gaming law.

Shawnee Mission Post, January 25, 2023

West Building, missing ceiling in the west room.

CLAIM:

….the site will become a casino.”

FACT:

“(Conveyance of the property to the tribe) certainly doesn’t mean the tribe can develop that property any way it wants, certainly not for gaming.”