Welcome to the overview of Overland Park's history and the people who brought our city to life. Each segment of our history is unique and the story of how our community grew into the thriving city it is today is fascinating. Please take a look at each one of the videos and enjoy!
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The Overland Park Historical Society was formed in 1994 as a result of efforts by local business owners in the original business area to save a building from demolition. That building was the car barn that once housed the generators and maintenance area for interurban trolley cars from 1906 to 1940. The building was in terrible shape and, until a group of concerned citizens took it upon themselves to organize, raise funds, and involve the city government, was in danger of being lost for future generations to see and appreciate. It is now a jewel of a building with a fine furniture store as a long-time tenant. A wall in that store is maintained with photos and information about the area’s history for visitors to see.
Dedicated society members have worked closely with, and been aided by, that original group to accumulate photos, artifacts, and information about the history of the community with an eye towards making sure that several other buildings, 80 to 100 years-old, are also kept for posterity. We enjoy telling about early years in downtown Overland Park where the first flight of an airplane in the metro area occurred in 1909 and where the first public airfield west of the Mississippi was built, as just two historical aspects of the city that was designed, platted, and started in 1906 by railroad builder, William B. Strang, Jr. The arrival of one of his innovative self-propelled streetcars along the newly laid interurban track from Kansas City to Olathe, Kansas, that he finished in August of that year, signaled the beginning of the city of Overland Park that has grown to become the second largest city in Kansas and is named by a several nationally known magazines as among the 10 best cities in the United States in which to live and work. |