J. B. Watkins

The Watkins Community Museum of History is housed in an impressive red brick building on the northwest corner of 11th and Massachusetts Streets in Lawrence, KS.

The building was constructed in 1888 by Jabez B. WATKINS, a leading entrepreneur of the time, to house his prosperous Land and Mortgage Company and later the Watkins National Bank.

J. B. Watkins was born in Pennsylvania in 1845, law graduate of the University of Michigan, moved to Lawrence in 1873 to start a real estate title and loan business which he later incorporated as the J. B. Watkins Land Mortgage Company. He raised money in the eastern states and in England which he invested in large tracts of land. He also organized a bank to handle his many financial transactions.

In 1929 J.B.'s widow, Elizabeth M. WATKINS, gave the building to Lawrence for use as its city hall. When the city offices moved elsewhere in 1970, destruction of the building was averted by a transfer of ownership to the Douglas County Historical Society. Under the auspices of the society the building was renovated, preserving the beauty of the original construction, and converted to use as a history museum. Go to:

The Watkins Community Museum of History

J B Watkins Web Page

Watkins Museum
1047 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044

Thanks to the Watkins Community Museum of History, Lawrence, Kansas, for the use of this picture