Black History Trail Dedicates Three More Sites

April 26 and April 27, 2024 were busy days for Prairie Heritage and our partner organization, the Black History Trail of Geary County.  

On April 26 we sponsored a showing of "The 24th," followed by a Q&A with the director, Academy Award Winner and Geary County native Kevin Willmott.  A news article about the event is attached.    The Larry Dixon Center was packed for the film, and a large crowd attended our ceremony the following day at the Buffalo Soldier Memorial Park, during which three more sites were added to the Black History Trail.  These sites were important during a time of segregation.  They included:  1.) A statue of a soldier with his horse that honors the "Buffalo Soldiers," the cavalrymen of color, predominantly African American, who served in the U.S. Army following the Civil War;  2.)  Pawnee Park, the brick houses built for Black soldiers  during World War II ; and 3.) A building across the street from Pawnee Park that once housed "the Black USO"--a place where Black soldiers could meet and socialize when discrimination barred them from other venues.   

Our Trail events are known for history but also for conviviality!  Hospitality is the watchword!  We all enjoyed heavy hors d'oevres before the film on April 26 and a 5-course dinner following the site dedications on April 27.