Douglas County’s largest annual commemoration of its heritage returns! The 27th annual Civil War on the Border will have the theme of intersections between natural and cultural history. This four-day festival will include annual favorites like bus and walking tours of local sites and a moving memorial service for the victims of Quantrill’s Raid. This year, we’ll also have talks with representatives from Haskell Indian Nations University on Native American history and other topics. Watch this page in the coming months for details.

Qualify for discount tour tickets by becoming a Watkins member.

Sponsored by Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department.

Thursday August 18

7-8 PM: Environmental History of the Civil War: Online Talk with Lisa Brady

Friday August 19

9-10:30 AM: Structure & Story: The Robert H. Miller House

7-8:00 PM: Retaliation during the Civil War: Online Talk with Lorien Foote

Saturday August 20

8-9:30 AM: Quantrill’s Raid walking tour

10-11:30 AM: Memorial Service for the victims of Quantrill’s Raid, followed by Lawrence 1867: Through the Eyes of Famed Photographer Alexander Gardner

12-2 PM: Bus and Walking Tour: The Landscape of Bleeding Kansas

2-4 PM: Hands-On Natural History at Clinton Lake

3-5 PM: Bus Tour: Women of Early Lawrence

7-8:30 PM: Quantrill’s Raid Graveyard Walking Tour. To register, go here and enter 321710 in Activity Number.

Sunday August 21

8-9:30 AM: Quantrill’s Raid walking tour

10 AM-12 PM: Morning Bus Tour: Quantrill’s Raid

2-4 PM: Afternoon Bus Tour: Quantrill’s Raid

5-6 PM: Walking tour of Black Jack Battlefield

7-8:30 PM: Indigenous Peoples of Kansas: Talks with Eric Anderson and Melissa M. Peterson