Southwest Quadrant


Map of Southwest Quadrant
Blue Rapids Map
Waterville Map


1. Oregon Trail crossing. Wagon and oxen silhouettes show the route of the Oregon Trail. West of Highway 77 between Quiver and Quail Roads.

2. Georgia-Pacific gypsum mine and mill. High-quality gypsum rock, used for wallboard, plaster and many other products, has been mined in the Blue Rapids area continuously since the 1870’s. The supply is estimated to last for another 100 years. Drive-by only. Highway 77 at Tumbleweed Road.

3. Prospect Hill Cemetery, overlooking the meeting of the Big and Little Blue Rivers. Burial sites of 48 known Civil War veterans, city fathers of Blue Rapids and others. On 8th Road between Tumbleweed and East River Road.


4. Alcove Spring. National Register of Historic Places. Has been called the most significant historic site on the Oregon Trail in Kansas. Described by members of the Donner party in 1846, this area is now owned by the Alcove Spring Historical Trust. Self-guided walking tour. From Highway 77 go west on Tumbleweed Road following signs for about 6 miles.

5. Schroyer. Ghost town, founded 1886. Nothing is left now except the road sign. From Alcove Spring go north about .7 mile.

6. Drennan-Stump round barn (1911). Private property but visible from Highway 9 east of 11th Road.

7. Ornate cement bridge at dead-end on 11th Road south of Highway 9. (NOTE: 11th Road is not passable when wet).

8. Capital Bluff. After crossing the bridge on Highway 77 east of Blue Rapids, look to the southern horizon for the highest point in this quadrant of the county (1,250 feet).

Blue Rapids. Attractions 9, 10, 12.

9. Blue Rapids ‘Round Town Square.’
The only round town square in Kansas, once featured in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not.”
Library (1874), the oldest library in continuous use in the same location west of the Mississippi. On National Register of Historic Places. Northeast corner of the square. 785-363-7709.
Holm log cabin (ca. 1876). Built by a Swedish family, and moved to the southwest corner of the square in 1996. It is typical of the log cabins used by early settlers, which were once common in the county.
1906 jail cells. In center of square.
War memorial (WWI, WWII, Korea and Viet Nam). In center of square.
Murals on several business buildings are by local artist Kenny Winkenwader.

10. Blue Rapids Fairgrounds and Riverside Park. County Fair held here since 1916. Octagonal “Floral Hall.” Silhouettes near the highway at the west end of the fairgrounds commemorate a 1913 Chicago White Sox/New York Giants ball game played here. Highway 77 between Park and Gypsum Streets.

11. Lower crossing on the Big Blue River. Believed to be an alternate crossing of the river used by Oregon Trail emigrants in later years. An interpretive exhibit explains how emigrants coped with steep river and creek embankments. From Highway 77, turn north on 7th Road at Fawn Creek School marker. Go about 2.9 miles. Park and walk through a small metal gate on your right and across the field to the exhibit. Private property. Please respect it so that others may also enjoy this site.

12. Marshall County Railroad Historical Society display in Blue Rapids, including MoPac caboose, touring cars and old depot. On 11th Street near co-op elevator.

To reach the site of Irving, from the Blue Rapids depot go about 1 block, take the right fork and continue on the gravel road to the southeast for 3.5 miles. When the road divides take the curve to the left and continue east 1 mile to the Irving town marker.


13. Irving, a ghost town. Founded 1859, severely damaged by two tornados  in one day in 1879. The town was leveled in 1960 to make way for the reservoir of the Tuttle Creek Dam located 40 miles south. The town site has rarely been under water. Leave a message in the mailbox notebook if you like. Marker and mailbox are at Zenith and 12th Roads.

14. Greenwood Cemetery. Graves from the cemeteries at Irving were moved here in 1959. On 8th Road at Yonder Road.

15. Borck barn, part of True/Borck family homestead (1870), called Hedge Lawn Farms. Private property. On 8th Road south of Greenwood Cemetery.

16. Marker at site of Czech Presbyterian Church (1893-1973). Northwest corner of 8th Road and Cyclone Lane.

17. St. Wenceslas Catholic Cemetery, founded in the 1850's. Many tombstone inscriptions in Czech. East on Parallel Road from 8th Road about ½ mile.

18. Czech Moravian Cemetery (1890), founded by Czech settlers. Many tombstone inscriptions in Czech. Turn southwest off 8th Road onto Toburen and Swede Creek Road. Go southwest to cemetery.

19. Beautiful stone arched bridge over Swede Creek. Go back to Cyclone Lane, west to 5th Road, then 1.8 miles south.

20. Swedish Lutheran Gloria Dei Cemetery and site of church (1887-1950). East ¼ mile from Highway 77 on Bobcat Lane.

21. Harbaugh School (1879). Former students meet here every fall for a celebration. Just north is the Harbaugh-Greenwood Cemetery. At Zenith and 3rd Roads, 1 mile west of Highway 77.

Waterville.  Attractions 22-29. Local contact for free tours: Fancy T’s & More, 785-363-2515

22. Weaver Hotel (1905). National Register of Historic Places. The outside has been restored and renovation is proceeding on the interior. The building will be used for a bed and breakfast and tourism center.

23. Opera House (1903). Recently restored and used often for community gatherings and performances. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in October 2008.

24. Depot Museum. The depot is now a museum of Waterville memorabilia and railroad collections.

25. Caboose Museum. This 1925 wooden caboose has been renovated into a railroad museum.

26. Ride on the Central Branch Railroad, one of the oldest tracks in Kansas. Contact: Ann Walter, 785-363-2343, Annlwalter@bluevalley.net

27. “Banker’s Row.”Three beautiful Victorian homes built by early-day bankers. Drive by only. 200 block East Hazelwood.


28. Samuel Powell house. Queen Anne style, restored in 1990’s. National Register of Historic Places. Local contact: Ward Alan Minge, 785-363-2498.

29. Game Fork School. Rural school, closed in 1952 and later moved to northwest corner of the Waterville City Park. Now a designated Scouthouse headquarters. Local schoolchildren recreate activities of a one-room school here one day a year.

30. Keefover/Mount Pleasant School and cemetery. In 1893 a woman who had died after the birth of her eighth child was buried here where her older children attended school. The grave is in the northwest part of the schoolyard and is marked by rocks. Private property. On Sunflower Road ½ mile west of 2nd Road.