Indianola

Indianola was a early settlement in Shawnee County, Kansas, founded in 1854 along the government and stage road connecting Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth. Positioned north of Topeka, it actually drew more traffic than its now-famous neighbor during its early years, serving travelers moving through what was then Kansas Territory.

One of its most notable residents was Samuel J. Reader, who arrived in 1855 at age 19 and established a farm in the area. Reader kept a detailed diary chronicling life in the settlement, including the turbulent period known as Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War era, leaving behind a rare firsthand record of the region's history.

Today Indianola exists as a ghost town. Visitors curious about early Kansas settlement history may find the site worth a look, though little physical remains of the original townsite. It is best approached as a historic and photographic destination rather than a recreational one.