The Battle of Osawatomie was fought on this site on August 30, 1856, a tragic day when abolitionist John Brown and his men tried to defend Osawatomie against proslavery Border Ruffians. The antislavery forces were unsuccessful and the town was burned. A life-sized statue of John Brown, sculpted by George Fite Waters, stands near the entrance to the park, which was dedicated in 1910 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt, speaking about "New Nationalism" gave one of the most important political speeches ever given in Kansas to 30,000 in attendance. The park later was designated a national historic site. The "Pledge of Allegiance" is etched in stone below the flagpole, and the 'Gettysburg Address' appears on a plaque on the pergola's outside wall.

Note: President Barack Obama came to Osawatomie and gave a re-election speech 101 years after Teddy Roosevelt had been here.