Railroads’ historic role to be topic

A Humanities Kansas program, “Railroaded: the Industry that Shaped Kansas,” will be presented Oct. 19 by Leo Oliva at Marion City Library.

Few industries dominated the economy of the nation in the 19th century more than the railroad.

Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs, and fed beef markets in the east. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time.

Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, and few survived without it.

Yet the advancement of the railroad industry came at a significant cost to the Plains Indians who were forcibly displaced by this westward expansion.

The free, public presentation examines the complicated legacy of railroads and the impact on native people who called Kansas home.

More information is avilable from Marion City Library at (620) 382-2442.