![KU men's basketball players ride through a parade honoring their 2022 championship win](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ku.edu/sites/homepage/files/styles/16_9_placeholder_/public/images/2023/KU_Downtown_Lawrence_Parade_Mens_BBall_Champs.jpg?h=fce2baba&itok=Am34Ggft)
About Lawrence
Our hometown began as an abolitionist haven. Today, Lawrence is a crossroads of culture, celebrating the artists and innovators who line its unmistakable legacy.
Stats
![Students walking along Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ku.edu/sites/homepage/files/styles/7_5_placeholder_/public/images/2022/2104886_AW_Lawrence%20Stock%20Photography-3218.jpg?h=74328444&itok=NKyun7QW)
![An audiences watches a live musical performance on downtown Massachusetts Street.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ku.edu/sites/homepage/files/styles/7_5_placeholder_/public/images/2022/2104944_MK_LiveOnMass.jpg?h=01d39518&itok=SUFwnjlo)
Historic downtown adventures
Massachusetts Street consistently ranks as a top downtown strip. Between the surrounding blocks, you’ll find varied music venues, world-class dining, eclectic shopping, and all kinds of art spaces.
![KU marching band trumpeters playing at the annual Collage Concert at the Lied Center in Lawrence](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ku.edu/sites/homepage/files/styles/16_9_placeholder_/public/images/2022/2104988_TS_Collage%20Concert%202021-G89A2096.jpg?h=e40bc7c7&itok=AmxKjMZn)
Get out and explore
Climb hills, travel trails, gaze across our big Kansas vistas. Lawrence is a favorite among cyclists and other outdoor adventurers looking to get out and get active.
![Students sit on a dock at Clinton Lake](/sites/homepage/files/images/2022/2104991_MK_ClintonLake_0.jpg)
Getting around
Lawrencians are never far from their next destination. Our bus system can get you almost anywhere in town, and we’re just a 45-minute drive to the Kansas City International Airport.
![A KU bus passes by Dyche Hall on Jayhawk Boulevard](/sites/homepage/files/images/2022/1903009_MK_FallCampusStudents.jpg)