About Lawrence, Kansas:
Lawrence, Kansas, is a college town located about 40 miles west of Kansas City, Kansas. Founded in 1854 by abolitionists from Massachusetts, Lawrence became a focal point of the “Bleeding Kansas” era and a prominent stop on the Underground Railroad. Lawrence is the location of the University of Kansas (KU), which has approximately 28,000 undergraduates and is ranked as one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses. Lawrence is also home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the nation’s only inter-tribal university for Native Americans, serving students from over 150 tribes.
An interesting note: Lawrence is the birthplace of modern basketball. Dr. James Naismith (the inventor of the game) coached and lived there, and the original rules of the game are permanently housed in the DeBruce Center at the iconic Allen Fieldhouse on the University of Kansas campus.
Catholic places of interest in Lawrence, Kansas:
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Saint Lawrence Catholic Campus Center
Traveling to Lawrence, Kansas:
Lawrence is 27 miles east of Topeka and 40 miles west of Kansas City.
By air: The closest major airport is Kansas City International Airport (MCI). From there, Lawrence is about a 45-minute drive via I-70 West.
By train: Amtrak serves Lawrence. It is a stop on the Southwest Chief route, which runs daily between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. The Station and waiting room are located at 413 East 7th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
By Car: Traveling between Kansas City, the nearest large city, and Lawrence is a distance of roughly 40 miles (64 km) and typically takes 40 to 50 minutes by car. The most common and direct routes are taking I-70 W (Kansas Turnpike) or US-40 W / K-10 W.