The Shawnee Playhouse is an intriguing historic building. C.C. Worthington constructed the playhouse in 1904. He said that he built it to provide for the “social amusement and literary and educational benefit” for visitors.

The Shawnee Players performed at the theater from the early 1900’s to well after World War II. Fred Waring later performed and recoded his famous radio programs at the playhouse. The facility then fell into disuse and gradually deteriorated.

In 1978, when Charlie and Ginny Kirkwood purchased the Shawnee Inn, they resorted the hall with much help from the community. The hall is now on the National registry of Historic Places and the recipient of the prestigious Phoenix Award presented by the Society of American Travel Writers.

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