Wayside Tour #1: Port of Leavenworth
Port of Leavenworth, 1854 to 1875
In 1854 the Missouri River was the freeway of commerce. This Landing was the heart of old Leavenworth. The natural landscape, transportation and business combined to make Leavenworth the largest and most important city on the early Western Plains.
Passengers and supplies stopped here because of the excellent overland connections available. It was the jumping-off point for overland travel to the vast west. In 1865 over 400 boats landed here, from which one firm alone hauled off over 50,000 tons of supplies.
The Levee was a natural site for commerce and the home of many business pioneers. The first doctor’s office in Kansas was near here, as were the first newspaper, first merchant and the first manufacturer. In 1870 there were 106 manufacturers located in Leavenworth, many clustered in this area.
In the mid-20th century, the landing was unused and all but ignored, then in 1997 the area was once more brought back into focus with the opening of the beautiful Leavenworth Landing Park. It celebrates the natural beauty of the riverfront while calling to mind its rich history as a center for trade and transportation in the old west.
