GARDNER, Kansas — This zip trip takes you to the city of Gardner (zip code 66030) in southwest Johnson County, Kansas.
Bordering the towns of Olathe, Edgerton and Spring Hill, Gardner is home to just over 23,000 people.
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Its history begins a few years before the Civil War, when Gardner was founded at the junction of the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California trails.
“We’re the only community in the nation that can say we have three roads that divide our town,” said Shirley Brown-Vannersdale, director of the Gardner Museum.
Some of the travelers decided to stay, Brown Vannersdale said. The town was likely settled primarily by travelers from Massachusetts and was named after Henry Gardner, who was the governor of Massachusetts at the time.
“Some of the people who came here in wagon trains stayed because they liked the place. They liked the farm,” Vannersdale said.
Much of the town’s history can be learned at the Gardner Historical Museum, which first opened in 2003. However, the house that houses all the historical artifacts was built 130 years ago.
Vannersdale said establishing the museum was a city-wide effort.
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“We solicited donations to start the museum, but the truth is we have too many items and need more space to store and display them,” Vannersdale said.
Rich in history, many of Gardner’s must-see spots are now on the National Register of Historic Places, which former Mayor Carol Lehman said is great news for residents.
“That means we qualified for state and federal aid,” Lehman said.
And we’ll tell you more about that history, as well as the many reasons why you should consider a trip to Gardner.
