ARCHFEST, Celebrating 100th Anniversary of the Rosedale Arch Memorial!
 
Help us celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Arch Memorial. The Arch Festival will be on September 7, 2024, starting at 10:00 AM on the Rosedale Middle School grounds. Followed by a Community Festival with activities for all ages.  Vendors, food, activities, Noon-9pm @ Fisher Park 39th and Springfield.

We are still looking for volunteers.  Contact nancy@rosedale.org for more details. For other questions, contact Sarah Oltvedt, sarah.oltvedt@rosedale.org 

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History Behind the Event:

Designed by John LeRoy Marshall, a Rosedalian, the Rosedale Memorial Arch was built between 1923-1924 to honor the 42nd Division of the United States Infantry that served in WWI, popularly known as the “Rainbow Division”. They were assigned to the Ammunition Train, and 6 of the 12 ammunition trucks that served in the Rainbow Division were made up of Rosedale, KS recruits. After the end of WWI, Rosedale welcomed home their returning veterans with a parade down the newly dedicated Rainbow Boulevard, in honor of the 42nd Division, decorating the streets with rainbow colors. But the community wanted to do more to honor the servicemen, and a special bond election was held in June of 1921 to approve $25,000 to be used to create a memorial. The vote passed with a large majority, and two years later a special groundbreaking ceremony was held to begin work on the Rosedale Memorial Arch.
The project was finished by the summer of 1924, and in September of that year, a grand unveiling ceremony was held, honoring all veterans from WWI. Over the years, many renovation and conservation efforts have been made.

Rosedale Development Association strives to work with residents, businesses, and institutions to develop a thriving Rosedale community.