Travel back in time to meet some of the "Territorial Characters" of the Kansas territorial period. This unique hands-on learning experience allows students to see a live performance featuring actors portraying Charles Robinson, Sara Robinson, James Lane, John Brown, Clarina Nichols, Samuel Jones, David Atchison, and Andrew Reeder. Students will have the opportunity to interact with and ask questions of the actors who will remain "in character" after the performance ends.

This one-hour performance is set in an 1850s Kansas territorial political town hall meeting. Actors from the Lecompton Reenactors troupe portray some of the famous Kansans from that turbulent time period known as "Bleeding Kansas." Join them as they passionately express their feelings on the issue of slavery in Kansas, both pro and con.

This tour fulfills grade specific standard and provides pre- and post-visit material to help teachers meet those standards. Included in the pre-visit materials is the Read Kansas! lesson Territorial Characters.

Standards:

History: Benchmark 2, Indicator 3: The student will retell important information about eight people who made significant contributions during the Kansas territorial period (1854-1861).

Reading: Benchmark 4, Indicator 9: The student uses paraphrasing and organizational skills to summarize information (e.g., stated and implied main ideas, main events, important details) from appropriate-level narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive texts in logical order.

Length of tour: approximately 1.5 - 2.5 hours for the performance, student interviews of the territorial characters, and visits to Constitution Hall State Historic Site and the Lane Museum.

Admission: $3 per student, with tour materials provided.

Number of students in a group: For the best experience, we recommend no more than 80 students for the performance and guided tours.

For registration and scheduling: Email constitution or call Tim Rues, site administrator, 785-887-6520, at least two weeks in advance.

Length of tour: approximately 30 minutes.

Admission: $2 adults and $1 students

Number of students in a group:For the best experience, we recommend no more than 25 students per tour.

For registration and scheduling: Submit online to constitution or call Tim Rues, site administrator, 785-887-6520.