NPS Form 10-900 0MB No. 10024-0018 Oct. 1990 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties ah Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A) Com riate box or by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable. ForTunctions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-9000a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property Historic name Black Jack Battlefield Other name/site number 2. Location U. S. Highway 56 and County Road 2000, three miles , , ., ... .. Street & number oast of Baldwin City - D not for publ,cat,on City or town Baldwin [x] vicinity State Kansas Code KS County Douglas Code 045 Zip code 66006 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this IE1 nomination D request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property CED meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant D nationally D statewide £<] locally. (D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) March 1,2004 Signature of certifying official/Title Date Kansas State Historical Society State or Federal agency and bureau ___ ________ In my opinion, the property D meets Q does not meet the National Register criteria. (Q See continuation sheet for additional Comments.) Signature of commenting official /Title Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification I herby comfy that the property is 0 entered in the National Register. D See continuation sheet. D determined eligible for the National Register D See continuation sheet. _ D determined not eligible for the National Register D removed from the National - Register D other, (explain:) Black Jack Battlefield Douglas County, KS Name of property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) D private Q building(s) Contributing Noncontributing $3 public-local D district 1 buildings D public-State 13 site D public-Federal D structure 2 sites D object 2 structures 2 8 objects 4 11 total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously listed (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) in the National Register N/A 0 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter Categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Defense: battlesite Landscape: conservation area 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Other: rustic foundation Concrete walls Wood: log roof Wood: shingle other Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Name of Property Black Jack Battlefield County and State Douglas County, KS 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance (Mark "X" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the (Enter categories from instructions) property for Natonal Register Military_________ [3 A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history S B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. D C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack Period of Significance individual distinction. 1856 D D Property has yielded, or likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.) Significant Dates Property is: 1856 d A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. O B removed from it original location. Significant Person D C a birthplace or grave. (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) D D a cemetery. John Brown d E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. Cultural Affiliation O F a commemorative property. N/A EH G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years Architect/Builder Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more N/A________ continuation sheets.) 9. Major Bibliographical References Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of additional data: D preliminary determination of individual lising (36 CFR 67) $3 State Historic Preservation Office has been requested D Other State agency D Previously listed in the National Register D Federal agency D previously determined eligible by the National Register D Local government Qdesignated a National Historic Landmark D University D recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey D Other # Name of repository: D recorded by Historic American Engineering Record* Name of Property Black Jack Battlefield County and State Douglas County, KS 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property 20.27 acres UTM References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet.) 1 3 1 4 9 2 0 4 2 9 2 9 3 0 1 5 3 1 5 1 0 1 4 2 9 2 5 1 0 lasting Northing Zone Easting Northing 4 3 1 5 1 2 0 4 2 9 2 9 2 5 1 5 3 1 4 9 1 0 4 2 9 2 5 2 0 D See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.) Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) 11. Form Prepared By Name/title Carolyn Berneking, Karl Gridley, Ramon Powers Organization Lawrence Preservation Alliance Date August 2003 Street & number P. 0.1073 Telephone City or town Lawrence State KS Zip code 66044 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form: Continuation Sheets Maps A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location. A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Photographs Representative black and white photographs of the property. Additional items (Check with SHPO or FPO for any additional items) Property Owner name Douglas County Commission street & number 1100 Massachusetts telephone __ city or town Lawrence______ state KS zip code 66044 Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16) U.S.C. 470 etseq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 1 BLACK JACK BATTLEFIELD The first battle in Kansas between anti- and pro-slavery forces was fought on June 2,1856 at Black Jack Creek, three miles east of present-day Baldwin City, Douglas County, Kansas. It was prelude to the bloody conflict called the Civil War. The battlefield covers 20.27 acres, consisting of a section of Black Jack Creek, prairie to the south that contains Santa Fe Trail ruts, and a wooded area further south and west. The area was surveyed in January 1856 by the U.S. Land Surveys for the Territory of Kansas. The surveyor's field notes describe the countryside as being a high rolling prairie of first quality with several ravine courses; elms, sycamores and black jack oaks grew along the stream with Indian trails going northeast and southwest. PRESENT PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Today Black Jack Battlefield looks much as it did in 1856. The fragile prairie remains, and the Santa Fe Trail ruts are still there. Not many Black Jack oaks are left, but there are sycamores and elms along the ravines. The County has grown from 8,637 in 1860 to 99,968 in 2000. The site of the Black Jack Battlefield includes 1) Black Jack Park containing the creek, 2) the Ivan Boyd Prairie Preserve containing Santa Fe Trail ruts, and 3) the Robert Hall Pearson Memorial Park.1 Black Jack Park Black Jack Park is a two-acre roadside park one-half mile west of the old Black Jack townsite at the junction ofU.S. 1 Verbal boundaries. Michael Kelly, Douglas County Surveyor, August 7, 2002. " Starting at intersection of U.S. Hy 56 and E2000, proceed East to first fence line approximately 670 ft. South along fence line, 1,365 ft. to center of road N175. West along N175 road, 680 ft.