Discover St. Marys: Mission, Nature Park and Culture

St. Marys is located in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties between Manhattan and Topeka on U.S. 24. The city combines mission history and connections to the Oregon Trail with religious heritage and recreational activities. For your stay, it is worth distinguishing between these highlights: the museum focuses on the early years of the mission, while parks and events showcase other sides of St. Marys. You can plan your trip and hotel search around the attractions you want to make time for.

Mission, Payment Station and Oregon Trail

St. Mary's Mission served the Potawatomi people as a mission and school along the Oregon Trail. It also housed the payment station of the Potawatomi Indian Agency. At the payment station building, members of Indigenous tribes received annual government payments based on earlier treaties. Both its educational and missionary roles, and the payment station, are therefore part of the area's history.

The St. Marys Indian Pay Station Museum Complex features information about life in the early years of St. Marys Mission. Those interested in this period will find a specific way to explore the mission's history here. St. Mary's Mission and Oregon Trail Nature Park is also listed on the “National Registry of Historic Sites.”

Oregon Trail Nature Park and Its Landscape

The Oregon Trail runs through Oregon Trail Nature Park near St. Marys. The park is located on the northern edge of the Kaw River Valley. Its location connects the trail to a distinctive landscape on the edge of the valley.

Paintings along the park's trails help visitors picture the historic scene. They add a visual interpretation to the park's connection to the Oregon Trail. If you are interested in the trail's history, the paintings bring this historical connection to life in the park.

Religious Heritage in St. Marys

Immaculate Conception is the oldest parish in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, dating back to 1848. The Immaculata is the largest Catholic church in Kansas; it was dedicated in May 2023. Both details give St. Marys' religious heritage a historical connection and a contemporary point of reference.

A rosary prayer service is held at the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette on the first Saturday of every month. As times may change, check the latest information about the service before visiting.

Events and Cultural Experiences

The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival takes place in Saint Marys, Kansas. The festival includes an outdoor Shakespeare performance featuring local performers. There is also a village of vendor stalls in the woods. These different elements offer a glimpse of the festival's format, but do not provide a specific event date for planning your trip.

The Old World Christkindlmarkt is also held on the grounds of the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival in Saint Marys. As a Christmas market, it follows a centuries-old European tradition, predominantly German and partly French. If either event is the reason for your trip, check the dates before making plans.

Walking Trail and Recreation at Riverside Park

Riverside Park has a walking trail. It also offers RV hookups and a campground. A 9-hole disc golf course was added to the park in 2019. If you plan to use these facilities, check their current status before your trip, and in particular, confirm whether the disc golf course is currently open for use.

You can plan your stay around the focus you prefer: mission history, religious heritage, a cultural event or time in the park. These different themes can help you decide the purpose of your trip and then find a hotel for your stay in St. Marys.

Discover more destinations: Wamego.

Go to the main travel overview: Pottawatomie County.