As Part of Her America 250 Week, Davids Visits John Brown Park, Highlights Federal Investments in Kansas History

Image June 18, 2026 Press Release OSAWATOMIE, KS — Today, as part of her America 250 Week, Representative Sharice Davids visited John Brown Park in Osawatomie to highlight federal funding she secured to refurbish the site and her ongoing efforts to strengthen Kansas’ history amid cuts from the current administration. “America 250 is about recognizing the places and stories that shaped our country, and Kansas has played a central role in that history,” said Davids . “John Brown Park is tied to the struggle over slavery and civil rights, and it deserves investment and care so future generations of Kansans and tourists can learn from it. I’m proud to have secured federal investments to help restore and improve this space, and I’ll keep fighting to protect Kansas history and the communities that preserve it.” During the visit, Davids toured John Brown Park, a historic site located in Osawatomie that sits on the grounds of the Battle of Osawatomie and serves as a key cultural and recreational destination for the community. She highlighted $3.81 million she secured for infrastructure refurbishment at the park, including improvements to aging streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and sewer systems, as well as enhancements to public engagement and historical storytelling spaces. Part of the funding was a joint request with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). Davids also highlighted her work to protect and restore funding for the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, which spans eastern Kansas and western Missouri and preserves sites tied to the Civil War era and the struggle over slavery and freedom in the region. Last year, Davids and Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05) successfully pushed for the release of delayed federal funding for the Heritage Area after concerns that withheld funds were disrupting staffing, preservation work, and educational programming. In 2023, Representative Davids, alongside Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), urged the National Park Service (NPS) to assess the feasibility of designating John Brown Park as a national park unit. This is the first step in the federal process for potential National Park System inclusion. If advanced, it could lead to additional surveys by the NPS and subsequent congressional action to establish the site as an official unit of the National Park System. Partner Quotes: “On behalf of the people of Osawatomie, I want to thank Congresswoman Sharice Davids and Senator Jerry Moran for their bipartisan leadership,” said Nick Hampson, Mayor, City of Osawatomie . “These investments will drive tourism, create economic opportunity, and help us tell our story for generations to come.” “Bleeding Kansas was the crucible where the question of who we are as a nation was first forced into the open,” said Mike Scanlon, John Brown Foundation . “Senator Moran and Congresswoman Davids — across party lines, much like the unlikely alliances of 1856 — show Kansas still knows how to lead.” “Investing in our region’s past is a bet on its future,” said Lucinda Barnhart Adams, Executive Director, Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area . “By securing funding for John Brown Memorial Park and Museum, Rep. Davids has strengthened a key Freedom’s Frontier partner site and preserved an important chapter in our nation’s history. This investment will help attract visitors and tourism dollars from across the region and beyond, generating economic benefits that extend far beyond a single destination to communities throughout Freedom’s Frontier.” “I grew up hearing about John Brown and his legacy that he left for our community,” said George Pretz, Chair, Miami County Commission . “With the support of Senator Moran and Congresswomen Davids, the John Brown Foundation is carrying this legacy forward for our future generations. Not as a relic but as a living commitment to the ideals that made Kansas free.” “Frederick Douglass said: ‘I could live for the slave. John Brown could die for the slave.’ We are not asked for sacrifice of that magnitude — only to remember, honor, and teach,” said Karen LaDuex, President, John Brown Foundation . “Senator Moran and Congresswoman Davids have made sure we can do exactly that.”