Members of the National Park Service have begun a reconnaissance survey in Osawatomie to determine if the community’s historic sites should be designated as a national park. City Manager Bret Glendenning told Miami County Commissioners that Osawatomie is seeking $1.95 million in federal funds that could come with a National Park designation in order to make repairs and enhancements to the city’s historic sites. The commission supports the request. Last year they agreed to give $22,000 to the city to assist in purchasing property for parking surrounding the John Brown ghost cabin at the Adair Homestead about two miles west of John Brown Memorial Park. Last year, the Osawatomie City Council authorized the purchase of a piece of property adjacent to the original Adair Homestead and later agreed to annex the property into the city limits.
John Brown Memorial Park was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1910 and is the site of the historic Battle of Osawatomie. The battle took place August 30th, 1856, and it featured John Brown battling proslavery forces. Glendenning says the reconnaissance could take up to 9 months.
