Douglas County and Baldwin City jointly own and operate Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park, a nationally significant site tied to the events of “Bleeding Kansas” and widely recognized as a precursor to the Civil War. The 38-acre property, located at 163 E. 2000th Road near Baldwin City, includes the historic Robert Hall Pearson farmhouse, nature trails, Captain’s Creek, restored prairie, picnic areas and sugar maple grove. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Efforts are currently underway to plan for the park's future. Those efforts are being led by the Baldwin City/Douglas County Black Jack Battlefield Advisory Board.

History

At dawn, on June 2, 1856, John Brown led an ambush on a pro-slavery militia led by Henry Clay Pate. Pate’s men were camped along an old Santa Fe Trail campsite known as "Black Jack". Despite being out numbered, John Brown took Pate and many of his men prisoner after a pitched 3-hour battle, coined the Battle of Black Jack.

Remembered as the first pitched battle between Free State and proslavery forces in Kansas, this was one of many conflicts in the region known collectively as “Bleeding Kansas” that ultimately led to the Civil War. Black Jack Battlefield is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and offers an opportunity to explore and learn more about Douglas County’s rich history.