The Leawood Historic Commission was formed in 1993 with the purpose of identifying, protecting and preserving the historical, architectural and cultural heritage of Leawood, Kansas, and to make that heritage accessible to its citizens for their use and education.
The Leawood Historic Commission was responsible for the 11-year process of saving, moving and restoring the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse. The school was relocated from the corner of 135th and Mission Road in 2003 to Ironwoods Park. It opened to the public in 2004 following a restoration, returning the school to its original 1877 appearance. The Kansas Preservation Alliance selected the Leawood Historic Commission as the recipient of a 2005 Award for Excellence for Preservation Advocacy for their role in preserving the Oxford Schoolhouse.
The school’s companion work of art represents a unique collaboration driven by the Leawood Foundation, in cooperation with the Leawood Historic Commission and the Art in Public Places Initiative of the Leawood Arts Council. Representatives from each group selected Dennis Smith and commissioned the design of the piece to represent the nurturing role teachers play in children’s lives. This sculpture was funded by private donations to honor the importance of teachers throughout history in our area. The life-sized bronze is a tribute to the contributions of the one-room schoolteachers, through present-day educators, to Kansas society.
The Commission has been interviewing residents about the early days in Leawood since the inception of the organization. They are writing and posting articles about life in Leawood on the City of Leawood website.
Leawood Historic Commission has installed plaques and interpretive signs at historic sites around Leawood.
Additionally, they have surveyed and dedicated three Historic Districts within Leawood and published two books on the history of Leawood.
Johnson County Kansas Heritage Foundation (JCKHF) 