Page 37 - Vol46-No02-Summer-2023-inLeague

Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS

In 1856, Kansas’ first abolitionist newspaper The Herald of Freedom
occupied the corner where Liberty Hall stands. A large fire started
by the pro-slavery Douglas County Sheriff Samuel Jones during the
Sack of Lawrence burned the Herald to the ground. Samuel Edwin
Poole would rebuild a new structure that same year, one that was
to become a gathering spot for debates, town meetings and political
speeches. In 1882 J.D. Bowersock purchased and renovated the
building, adding another floor. It soon became a theatrically themed
opera house and well-known entertainment destination. In 1911, a
fire started by poor electrical wiring destroyed the building.

The Opera House was completely rebuilt and re-designed in a Beaux-
Arts style with an Imperial Roman façade. With added advancements in lighting and technology, the new structure
began to show silent films. The first movie with sound played in 1924. Today’s movie and concert goers enter the main
lobby, greeted by the same hanging chandeliers, beautiful tile floors, and marble staircases of the original building.
Though the structure has stood on the same corner for just over a century, the ethos of Liberty Hall dates back to the
Pre-Civil War era of Bleeding Kansas and is heavily tied to the shaping of Lawrence as an essential hub for the anti-
slavery movement. The building’s original name Liberty Hall comes from an Abraham Lincoln quote where he called
Lawrence, KS, “the cradle of Liberty.” Changes in name, ownership, and appearance vary greatly but reflect an ongoing
desire to keep the building and its history alive.
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47th National Conference & Theatre Tour July 2023 INLEAGUE | PAGE 35