Travel about 45 minutes west of downtown Kansas City and you'll be in the town ranked 15th among the 100 best small arts towns in America - Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence was founded in 1854 and is home to the University of Kansas.

It's said to be one of the few U.S. cities founded strictly for political reasons. Today Lawrence is a melting pot of ideas and styles, artists and scholars.

Take a stroll down Massachusetts Street and you'll soon understand why "Mass" has been called one of America's loveliest main streets. Lawrence has not only been influenced by artists, but is also home to a great number.

The downtown district is lined with century-old buildings, eclectic boutiques, diverse restaurants, galleries and antique shops. A unique aspect to the downtown district is the Downtown Lawrence Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, the only outdoor sculpture exhibit of its kind in the United States, offering a fresh selection of various art styles annually from local, regional and national artists. Numerous art galleries and studios are located downtown, including the Lawrence Arts Center. Liberty Hall, a restored opera house, provides a beautiful setting for live entertainment as well as cinematic releases.

Lawrence is well-known as the home of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Several sites on the beautifully landscaped campus are open to visitors. The KU Natural History Museum features four floors of plant and animal exhibits, fossils, snakes, minerals and an active bee hive. The Spencer Museum of Art, comprised of eleven galleries, is considered one of the nation's top university art collections. The KU Museum of Anthropology is housed in the oldest building on campus, Spooner Hall, and features beadwork, artifacts, African masks, and a totem pole. The gift shop carries ethnic art from various countries. The museum sponsors the annual Lawrence Indian Arts Show, a full month of activities kicked off by the two day outdoor Indian Market, September 14 and 15.

Lawrence is also the home of Haskell Indian Nations University. Founded in 1884, Haskell is one of the nation's oldest Native American educational institutions. The student population numbers roughly 800 Native American and Alaska Natives per semester. Each May, Haskell hosts its annual commencement pow wow, featuring hundreds of Native American dancers, musicians and craftsmen. Haskell is also home to a new Cultural Center, featuring artifacts and art exhibits.

During the Civil War, Lawrence was considered the hub of the Free State and leader of northern resistance against pro-slavery forces. On August 21, 1863, the infamous Quantrill's Raid resulted in the deaths of 150 unarmed Lawrence men at the hands of 300 cutthroat slavery supporters. Historians have called Quantrill's Raid the most atrocious attack on unarmed men to take place during the Civil War. The Old West Lawrence historic neighborhood includes a three-square-block area with beautiful homes built between 1860 and 1920. Many homes are survivors of Quantrill's attack and feature impressive architecture from Victorian to Italianate. Guided and self tours are available through the Lawrence Convention & Visitors CVA.

For additional information, please contact the Lawrence Convention and Visitor CVA at 888-LAWKANS. You can also visit Lawrence online at www.visitlawrence.com.

Directions from downtown

Kansas City, Missouri to Lawrence, Kansas
I-70 West about 45 miles to Lawrence (two exits)
Lawrence Convention & Visitors CVA: 913-865-4411
Visitor Information Center in historic Union Pacific Depot (Exit 204): 800-318-8995.