Rankin Hall keeps Tarkio's college story visible

Rankin Hall sits on North 13th Street in Tarkio, but it points to a much wider Atchison County story. David Rankin bought land in the county in the 1870s, helped build businesses in Tarkio, Westboro, and Fairfax, and became a major supporter of Tarkio College.

The college thread has a twist. Rankin first backed a plan to move the county seat from Rock Port to Tarkio. Voters kept the seat in Rock Port, and the building tied to that effort became part of Tarkio Valley College and Normal Institute, later Tarkio College.

Rankin Hall was completed in 1931 and later named for Rankin. The National Register-listed building at 402 N. 13th Street gives Tarkio a clear landmark for the county’s mix of farming, education, and civic rivalry.