People climbing wooden stairs on a steep hillside toward a wooden observation tower - new deal and depression-era sites

Self-guided · metro area, Kansas

New Deal and Depression-Era Sites in Manhattan, KS

Lodges, lookouts, bathhouses and public buildings put up by the WPA and the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.

Open the Kansas map · All states

Photo: Jeffrey Eisen on Unsplash

The Manhattan, KS metro area has about 136,122 residents, ranking 306th in the country. The record for this chapter of history is uneven, and some of it is hard to read. That is a reason to go and see it, not a reason to skip it.

Men gathered around a campfire in a forest - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: The Oregon State University Collections and Archives on Unsplash

Group of loggers with a two-man saw in a forest - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: The Oregon State University Collections and Archives on Unsplash

Man and woman sitting on black wooden rocking chairs - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: Aaron Thomas on Unsplash

On the record near Manhattan, KS

The 12 nearest

15 listed sites on the record match new deal and depression-era sites within 200 miles of Manhattan, KS, out of 71 listed sites of every kind within 25 miles.

Sugar Lake State Park Open Shelter84 miles from the center of Manhattan · Building · Rushville · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
WPA Beach House at Gardner Lake91 miles from the center of Manhattan · Building · Gardner · listed 1992National Register of Historic Places
College Hill Park Bathhouse111 miles from the center of Manhattan · Building · Wichita · listed 2008National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreational Demonstration Area Warehouse #2 and Workshop163 miles from the center of Manhattan · Building · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreation Demonstration Area Bridge164 miles from the center of Manhattan · Structure · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreation Demonstration Area Entrance Portal164 miles from the center of Manhattan · Structure · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreational Demonstration Area Rock Bath House164 miles from the center of Manhattan · Building · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Montserrat Recreation Demonstration Area Dam and Spillway164 miles from the center of Manhattan · Structure · Knob Noster · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
WPA Stock Barn and Pavilion170 miles from the center of Manhattan · Building · Trenton · listed 1994National Register of Historic Places
Medford Bathhouse and Swimming Pool176 miles from the center of Manhattan · Structure · Medford · listed 1988National Register of Historic Places
Van Meter State Park Shelter Building177 miles from the center of Manhattan · Building · Marshall · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Arrow Rock State Historic Site Grave Shelter195 miles from the center of Manhattan · Structure · Arrow Rock · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Manhattan, KS. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

New Deal Sites in Manhattan, step by step

1
Read the short history of the period for this area
2
Open the map filtered to the sites from that chapter
3
Visit the nearest site and read its full record
4
Ask what the marker leaves out and look for the rest
5
Add the site to a route that follows the period in order

What people in Manhattan, KS ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Manhattan, KS?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

Are the hard parts of this history included?

Yes. The record is shown as published, and the stories behind the markers include what happened, who it happened to, and how it was remembered. Leaving the hard parts out would make the stop less worth the trip.

Why are there so many of these sites near Manhattan, KS?

Most areas have more than people expect, because the registers list every surviving building and site tied to a period, not just the famous ones. The list on this page shows exactly what is on the record nearby.

How a visit works in Manhattan

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Manhattan, KS the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Manhattan, KS are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.