Discover Leawood through a range of interests: the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse offers a glimpse into the history of education, the Reaching sculpture brings art outdoors, and trails and programs provide other highlights. There are also practical planning details, such as the approximate duration of the Art Line Leawood Tour and the lengths of individual trails. This lets you explore art, history, nature and more active pursuits according to your interests.
Schoolhouse and Art
The Historic Oxford Schoolhouse in Ironwoods Park has been carefully restored and offers a glimpse into the region’s educational history. Historical artifacts are on display in the schoolhouse, including 19th-century textbooks such as the McGuffey Reader. In this way, the schoolhouse combines its historical significance with tangible exhibits from the education of that era.
Open house days at the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse are listed from March through November: Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. Hours may change, so check that they are still current before your visit.
The Reaching sculpture can be viewed both day and night. After dark, it lights up in more than 30 color schemes. This offers a different perspective on the artwork during the day and after dark, with the changing colors a distinctive feature of its nighttime appearance.
Tours and Trails
The Art Line Leawood Tour runs for 2.8 miles along Tomahawk Creek Parkway. Allow about 90 minutes at your own pace. For comparison, the paved Tomahawk Creek Trail is 4.1 miles long and connects Leawood City Park and Tomahawk Park along Tomahawk Creek. The Art Line provides both the route length and an approximate time frame, while the Tomahawk Creek Trail is distinguished by its paved surface and connection between the parks.
Other trails offer different points of reference: City Park is the starting point for a 2.5-mile trail along the Tomahawk Greenway Trail. Gezer Park also has a walking path. These details help distinguish the trails by their respective starting points and described features, rather than treating them as one continuous route.
Nature and Guided Activities
The Prairie Oak Nature Center is home to animals from the mammal, reptile, amphibian and fish groups. The animals on display may change over time. The center also offers several on-site educational programs for all ages. Since the program offerings may change, check in advance which programs will be running during your visit.
The Ironwoods Challenge Course is open year-round for programs. Options range from two-hour recreational climbing sessions to full-day team-building programs. The course includes 50-foot towers and obstacle courses; trained staff provide the necessary equipment and instruction. The range from a two-hour option to a full-day program highlights the different formats without combining them into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Olathe, Shawnee, Overland Park, Merriam, Mission, Lenexa
Back to the main travel overview: Johnson.
