Haskell to celebrate 100 years of Memorial Stadium at Centennial Homecoming Celebration

The Memorial Stadium has stood at the heart of Haskell Indian Nations University for 100 years—not only as a home for athletics, but as a lasting reminder of what Native communities can accomplish when they come together. 100 years after its dedication, the Haskell Stadium and Arch Centennial Homecoming Celebration will honor the people whose generosity, service, and collaboration built not only a stadium—but a lasting legacy.

The celebration will take place on September 18-19, 2026, at Haskell’s campus in Lawrence, Kansas, at the stadium. The two-day celebration will honor the legacy of the stadium through events that reflect the original dedication, including a powwow and community bison feed.

The vision for the stadium began with Frank McDonald, Haskell Institute’s football coach during the 1920s. What started as a fundraising effort to replace the bleachers at the old football field, known as the Adobe Flats, evolved into an ambitious project that would become the first lighted stadium west of the Mississippi River.

Unlike many public construction projects of its time, the stadium was built entirely through the support of Native communities. The construction was funded entirely by donations from Native people across the country, with tribes including the Osage and Quapaw making significant contributions. Haskell students also played an important role, contributing financially while volunteering their labor to help build the stadium.

The iconic Haskell Arch, which welcomes visitors into the stadium, was funded separately from the stadium itself. The arch was made possible through donations from two Quapaw women, Agnes Quapaw-Hoffman and Alice Beaver-Hallam, who dedicated it in memory of their friends and classmates who served during World War I.

The arch serves as a lasting tribute to the 415 Haskell students and alumni who served in World War I. It also represents the university’s longstanding military tradition, as Haskell maintained the only Indian cavalry unit in the U.S. National Guard. Haskell community members continued to serve in later conflicts, including World War II, and that legacy is further honored through a veterans memorial sculpted by renowned Native artist Alan Houser, now displayed in the Haskell Auditorium.

Over the past century, the stadium has continued to evolve alongside the university. The south side of the stadium, once open, was later enclosed with the construction of Tinker Hall, the residence hall that housed Haskell football players. After persistent water damage made the building unsuitable as a dormitory, the space was converted into locker rooms and storage.

The stadium has also hosted remarkable athletes whose accomplishments reached the international stage. Among them were Olympians Buster Charles, who competed in the 1932 Olympic Games, and Billy Mills, the 1964 Olympic gold medalist whose historic victory in the 10,000-meter race remains one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. Both competed at the Memorial Stadium during their time as Haskell students.

As Haskell prepares to celebrate the centennial of the stadium’s dedication, organizers hope the anniversary serves as more than a reflection on the past. The original construction of Memorial Stadium demonstrated what Native communities could accomplish by working together toward a shared goal, transforming a modest fundraising campaign into a landmark that continues to serve the university 100 years later.

The celebration invites alumni, students, families and community members to honor that legacy, celebrate Haskell’s history and recognize the generations of Native people whose generosity and commitment helped create one of the university’s most enduring symbols.

Full Schedule of Events

Friday:

• 12 PM – Community Bison Harvest at Haskell Powwow Grounds
• 6 PM – Haskell Film Screenings at Haskell Auditorium

Saturday:

• 9 AM – Stickball Game at the Haskell Stickball Field
• 10 AM – 11:30 AM – Haskell Royalty Reunion at Stidham Union
• 10 AM – 6 PM – Alumni Gathering at Stidham Union
• 12 PM – 2 PM – Community Bison Feed at Coffin Sports Complex
• 1 PM – Powwow Grand Entry at Haskell Stadium
• 2 PM – Haskell Film Screenings at Haskell Auditorium
• 2 PM – 5 PM – Corn Husk Doll Making at Haskell Stadium
• 6 PM – Powwow Grand Entry at Haskell Stadium