African American Heritage Site – Kansas Preservation Alliance

Awards of Excellence:
St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church – Lawrence

Year(s) Listed: • 2011 • 2023 | City/Town: • Lawrence

The St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church, built in the style of 20th century ecclesiastical Gothic Revival Architecture, is an icon of Old East Lawrence. Constructed in 1910, this church has been an anchor in Lawrence’s African American community for 101 years. In particular, during times of racial discrimination and segregation in the early 20th …

Endangered:
Sumner Elementary School

Year(s) Listed: • 1996 • 2009 | City/Town: • Topeka

Constructed in 1936 this Art Moderne style building is the school Oliver Brown’s daughter was denied admission to in the historic Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 19554.

Endangered:
Ark Valley Lodge

Year(s) Listed: • 2000 | City/Town: • Wichita

Photo by Judy Handley Listed on the National, State and Local Registers of Historic Places this is an important African-American site in Kansas history. It is the only remaining building in Wichita’s early African-American business district and was reportedly designed by local African-American architect Josiah Walker. Sadly, the building is currently vacant and in disrepair. …

Endangered:
Nicodemus, Kansas

Year(s) Listed: • 1993 • 1996 | City/Town: • Nicodemus

Photo by: unknown/Library of Congress The only remaining western Kansas town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. A report by the National Park Service indicates that “if Nicodemus is not protected and preserved…..it is inevitable that the historic structures will continue to deteriorate and eventually be razed.”

Historic Designation: African American Heritage Site