Terwilliger House, Council Grove, Kansas

Title

Terwilliger House, Council Grove, Kansas

Artist

Catherine Sherman

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

"Rawlinson-Terwilliger House, Council Grove, Kansas" by Catherine Sherman.

Built by Abraham and Mary Rawlinson in 1860-61, this stone home was the last house that freighters carrying goods passed going west on the Santa Fe Trail when leaving Council Grove as late as 1863. The Rawlinson-Terwilliger Home is the oldest stone home and the second oldest home remaining alongside the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas.

The Rawlinson-Terwilliger House is part of The Council Grove Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District. It consists of six discontiguous areas in the city important in the history of the Santa Fe Trail and American migration to the west in the 19th century. Council Grove was named for the occasion of an 1825 treaty negotiation between the Osage Indians and the US Federal government which guaranteed the Santa Fe caravans safe passage through Osage territory. The landmark was designated in 1963.

The property was purchased by William Riley Terwilliger in 1870, who added the south wing by 1873.

The Rawlinson/Terwilliger Home was a gas station for 50 years. It took on the name of Maple Camp due to the large shady Maple trees on the grounds and the travelers who pitched their tents under the trees at night.

Soon four small cabins were built on the grounds to house travelers. At that time Maple Camp was referred to as a "Motor Camp". These cabins had the basics: four walls and cot-type iron beds for sleeping. They were better than a tent on a rainy night.

Then during WWII (1943), four more cabins were built to house Herington Army Air Field personnel.

After 1977, the Rawlinson-Terwilliger House was no longer a gas station. By 1994 was in danger of being bulldozed down. The Historic Preservation Corporation was formed in 1994 to save the 1861 Rawlinson-Terwilliger Home and the Maple Camp (Tourist Camp) complex from destruction and to restore it to its pre-gas station appearance.

The house is now the Trail Days Cafe and Museum with a menu of historical food. Patrons can dine surrounded by museum exhibits and also visit the historical buildings on the grounds.

Featured in "The Niche" group (07/14/2018)

Uploaded

June 6th, 2018

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