Grinter Place State Historic Site, Great Plains Travel Guide

Grinter Place State Historic Site, located in Kansas City, Kansas, offers a captivating journey into the state's early history. Built in 1857 by Moses and Annie Grinter, this two-story brick house stands as the oldest surviving home in Wyandotte County. Moses Grinter, an early European-American settler, established a ferry across the Kansas River in 1831, facilitating travel between Fort Leavenworth and Fort Scott.Grinter's wife, Annie Marshall, was a member of the Delaware Nation, also known as the Lenape. The Grinters operated a trading post from 1855 to 1860, exchanging goods with the Delawares for cash and furs. The site reflects the significant historical events that shaped Kansas, including the relocation of Native American tribes, the Civil War, and westward expansion.Today, visitors can explore the Grinter home, furnished to reflect the Grinters' life in the mid-19th century. The site also hosts events and educational programs, providing insights into frontier life and the cultural interactions of the time. Grinter Place is part of the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area, which highlights the struggles for freedom that occurred along the Missouri-Kansas border.