Happy Birthday Kingman!!!
    A Cause for Celebration

by Katie Aich

Celebrating Today

This past week has brought the citizens of Kingman out of their houses and onto the streets for a celebration, and what better reason to celebrate than the 125th anniversary of our beloved home? The party, which ended Saturday after the Gala Ball, hopefully prompted us to remember our history, like when we were founded and how far we have come. Also, it’s important for us to recognize all the significant historical sights in our town which were laid down in the beginning and still stand today.

Remembering Yesterday

Kingman was founded in 1883 around the Ninnescah River, located near the hunting grounds of the local Indians. The tribes which lived on our land previous to our settlement were Comanche, Pawnee, Osage, and Kiowa. A mere $1.25 was the price paid for each acre of land by the original settlers of Kingman County. In 1883, the same year as Kingman’s founding, the first railroad was built that ran through the town, keeping it thriving and alive.  The first depot, known to us as the Santa Fe Depot, was originally a wooden building constructed over this railroad.  The old salt mine out northeast of town was found in 1881 and was finally shut down in 1903 aftera fire.  In 1911, Clyde Cessna successfully built his first plane, hence the name of Cessna Field north of KHS.

Looking Forward To Tomorrow

Many of the buildings that we are familiar with in downtown Kingman have been standing for over a hundred years. It’s important to take advantage of these local historical sites by visiting them and recognizing their roles in our past. The museum is one we are all familiar with, which has been standing since1888. Also, the two train depots, the library, the original bank, and the theatre are historical points of interest. Visit our library to view reels of our original newspaper, or stop by the courthouse to see the items found in the time capsule, dug up last year.