Panel in Kansas endorses Capitol location for mural commemorating 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment – Kansas Reflector

The Kansas legislature subcommittee has agreed to recommend placing a privately financed mural on the fourth floor of the Capitol to honor the first Black regiment to see combat during the Civil War. The mural will tell the story of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which fought bravely at the Battle of Island Mound in Missouri in October 1862. The Emancipation Proclamation authorized the enlistment of Black men as soldiers in the Union Army, and the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry was mustered into federal service in January 1863. The decision to place the mural on the fourth floor was made to ensure it is visible and accessible to visitors, as the first three floors already have multiple murals installed. Governor Laura Kelly signed legislation in March 2023 to authorize planning and fundraising for the mural, which has been in the works for 25 years. The project aims to pay tribute to the important contributions of Black soldiers in Kansas who fought to defeat slavery.

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