Bunker Hill

The city of Bunker Hill, which was incorporated in 1871, is located in the center of Kansas and was the first city and county seat of Russell County. The beginning of the town was like most in central Kansas created near the railroad and predominantly based on agriculture. As Bunker Hill grew in the late 1800's and early 1900's, the main commercial district was lined with buildings constructed of native limestone from the Kansas prairie. As time progressed, and the town became smaller, many of these buildings did not survive. Two of the original limestone buildings still exist on Main Street and are still in use, preserving the history of Bunker Hill. The Bunker Hill Cafe resides in one and the other houses Smoky Hills Public Television, which converted the native stone building into offices and studios in 1981 and provides programming in 70 counties throughout Kansas and one county in Nebraska.

Bunker Hill's most notable resident was Mary Ann "Mother" Bickerdyke. Mother Bickerdyke, as she is known and was coined by the Union soldiers during the Civil War, became the best known Civil War Nurse. In 1986, Mary Ann "Mother" Bickerdyke retired in Bunker Hill and the house that her son, James Bickerdyke, lived in still stands today.

The residents of Bunker Hill continue to share their heritage and history, which is evident with the many documents, artifacts and other forms of historical importance that are housed in an old limestone church, one block east of Main Street, in the Bunker Hill Museum.

In 2008, Bunker Hill was the setting on an independent film by the town's name.