PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE-September 2025
As today dawns with a wonderful 58-degree temperature, autumn is tapping summer on the shoulder suggesting it start packing its bags. Soon enough we will be in the “beautiful season”. A season when the trees put on their party clothes to celebrate the blessings of a year ending and the anticipation of a new beginning not far away. So it is with your Historical Society, celebrating our history while we plan for our future.
Our headquarters at the Depot in downtown OP is completed. Our historical “campfire ground” is awaiting designation of the exhibits that will tell the stories of our past and present that suggest the story of our future too. Soon enough visitors will be enjoying the stories around our “campfire,” telling their own and becoming a part of our ever-moving history.
The City of Overland Park has come a long way since Mr. Strang’s railroad first broke the prairie landscape and made O.P. a destination. That destination in those days was “The Depot” the front of which is fully and carefully preserved inside our headquarters with the shadow of the tracks impressed into the floor where they once delivered first residents of the area to begin their lives.
We celebrate all those that Strang’s trolley delivered. They were the genesis of what we have today, and we will tell their stories. But, more than that, we will provide a wonderful space surrounded by our historical exhibits in which the community can gather for events to support the Depot in its mission of service to our community.
As we prepare to assemble our exhibit space, plan for community events and anticipate our first official visitors from Overland Park’s Sister City in Germany and the Fall Festivals in the area, we know our success is possible only with long term financial underwriting. We will do our best to earn that financial support. Thanks to each and every one of our steadfast members, donors, Grantors and Foundations. Thanks to you all for your past, present and enduring future support!!
Rod Richardson, President
Overland Park Historical Society
As today dawns with a wonderful 58-degree temperature, autumn is tapping summer on the shoulder suggesting it start packing its bags. Soon enough we will be in the “beautiful season”. A season when the trees put on their party clothes to celebrate the blessings of a year ending and the anticipation of a new beginning not far away. So it is with your Historical Society, celebrating our history while we plan for our future.
Our headquarters at the Depot in downtown OP is completed. Our historical “campfire ground” is awaiting designation of the exhibits that will tell the stories of our past and present that suggest the story of our future too. Soon enough visitors will be enjoying the stories around our “campfire,” telling their own and becoming a part of our ever-moving history.
The City of Overland Park has come a long way since Mr. Strang’s railroad first broke the prairie landscape and made O.P. a destination. That destination in those days was “The Depot” the front of which is fully and carefully preserved inside our headquarters with the shadow of the tracks impressed into the floor where they once delivered first residents of the area to begin their lives.
We celebrate all those that Strang’s trolley delivered. They were the genesis of what we have today, and we will tell their stories. But, more than that, we will provide a wonderful space surrounded by our historical exhibits in which the community can gather for events to support the Depot in its mission of service to our community.
As we prepare to assemble our exhibit space, plan for community events and anticipate our first official visitors from Overland Park’s Sister City in Germany and the Fall Festivals in the area, we know our success is possible only with long term financial underwriting. We will do our best to earn that financial support. Thanks to each and every one of our steadfast members, donors, Grantors and Foundations. Thanks to you all for your past, present and enduring future support!!
Rod Richardson, President
Overland Park Historical Society
