Manhattan – Kansas Preservation Alliance

Endangered:
Landmark Water Tower

Year(s) Listed: • 2022 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The 316,000 gallon Landmark Water Tower was constructed in 1922. The water tower helped expand the waterworks and equalize water pressure throughout Manhattan. It is no longer used as a water tower or viewing tower but serves as a historic landmark for the area. The water tower is a standpipe with a cylindrical tower over …

Awards of Excellence:
Community House – Manhattan

Year(s) Listed: • 2022 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The Manhattan Community House was built by Mont Green from H.B. Winter’s 1917 plans. It was the first permanently constructed community house in the United States, built to serve the soldiers during the war and the community afterward. A plaque on the building is inscribed, “1917 Manhattan Camp Funston-Community Building-A Tribute from the Citizens of …

Awards of Excellence:
Union National Bank – Manhattan

Year(s) Listed: • 2021 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The building was completely renovated to its current footprint in 1905 by the Stringley Brothers. The expansion created a number of office spaces that were occupied by various professionals over the years; these included doctors, dentists, realtors, and attorneys. When the bank moved into new facilities at 7th and Poyntz in the 1970’s, this building …

Awards of Excellence:
The Smith Building

Year(s) Listed: • 2003 • 2021 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The Smith Building has been occupied by many different businesses throughout its time. The earliest record of that location states it was an attorney’s office, when Walters redesigned the building, it was used for a furniture store. From there the building was converted to hardware stores, a clothing store, and for a time was used …

Awards of Excellence:
Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity

Year(s) Listed: • 2021 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The proposed project is focused largely on a historic interior rehabilitation of the 1907 building including finish and fixture upgrades in common areas and man rooms. Additionally, the scope includes upgrades to building systems including installation of a sprinkler system and bathrooms and kitchen in both 1907 and 1958 wings. Exterior scope is limited, involving …

Awards of Excellence:
Peace Memorial Auditorium

Year(s) Listed: • 2019 | City/Town: • Manhattan

In 1946, the citizens of Manhattan approved a bond to construct a multi-purpose auditorium to honor the 2,610 Riley Countians who had served and the 101 servicemen who lost their lives in World War II. As the years passed, Manhattan and Riley County residents became unaware of the auditorium’s role as a living World War …

Awards of Excellence:
Seven Dolors Catholic Parish

Year(s) Listed: • 2019 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The weekend of April 14th/15th, 2018 Fr. Kerry gave an update on the Church Renovation Project. If you missed it, here is the update. “I am here to give an update on our Church Renovation. This process began over three years ago. One of the driving forces behind our renovation is that in less than …

Awards of Excellence:
Orville Huntress Building

Year(s) Listed: • 2019 | City/Town: • Manhattan

Although various sources give this building a construction date of 1883, evidence suggests construction may have begun prior to 1881. Commissioned by Stingley and Huntress, they were listed as the building’s occupants in 1886. The building was occupied by the post office in 1894. The owners expanded the building between 1885 and 1890. In 1886, …

Awards of Excellence:
Samuel Kimble Farmstead

Year(s) Listed: • 2015 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The simple Kansas farmstead is a common sight across the state, and the Samuel Kimble Farmstead in Manhattan is an example typical to the Flint Hills. Samuel Kimble was an early pioneer in the Manhattan area, having moved from Ohio in 1857 to work as a carpenter and stonemason at Ft. Riley. In 1860, he …

Awards of Excellence:
Marshall Theatre

Year(s) Listed: • 2015 | City/Town: • Manhattan

Having served multiple purposes over the years, a building can often find itself in need of an overhaul. The Marshall Theatre in Manhattan was no different. Built in 1909 and designed by architect Carl Boller, a well-known Midwestern theater designer, the two-story brick building containing an 1100 seat theater was regarded as one of the …

City: Manhattan