In 1857, five men from Lawrence formed the Emporia Town Company and gave birth to this town. It was William Allen White, however, who put Emporia on the map. As editor of The Emporia Gazette, he brought national attention to Kansas and to Emporia.

This park pays tribute to White and his son, William Lindsay White. W.L.W. took over the Gazette after W.A.W.'s death in 1944.

The Emporia Gazette, purchased by William Allen White in 1895, is located at 517 Merchant. The park is adjacent to the Gazette at Sixth and Merchant.

Panels in the park quote writings of W.A.W. and W.L.W.