Kansas Sports Hall of Fame [KS]

Description

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is located in the heart of old town Wichita and is dedicated to honoring the many great athletes from Kansas. The Hall of Fame has 176 current inductees, and is open to visitors year round.

The Hall of Fame offers exhibits on past Kansas athletic greats and guided tours. Admission is free for school groups. The website offers brief biographies of all past inductees, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Old Cowtown Museum [KS]

Description

The Old Cowtown Museum is a living history museum where visitors can experience life in the midwest during the 1870s. Old Cowtown consists of a visitor's center, which offers exhibits and visitor information, as well as a fully reconstructed pioneer town. The reconstructed town contains a residential section, a blacksmithing shop, a business area, and a farm.

The museum offers educational programs, including tours tailored for specific grade groups; wagon rides; costumed interpreters; historic structures furnished with time period furnishings; and special events such as lectures, reenactments, and special interpretive events. The website offers visitor information, information regarding educational programs, supplemental materials for teachers including lesson plans and worksheets, and an events calendar.

Constitution Hall State Historic Site

Description

James Henry Lane had a significant impact on Kansas history and is one of Constitution Hall's more colorful characters. He was part of a large antislavery delegation that marched into Lecompton to protest the convening of the proslavery Lecompton Constitutional Convention in the fall of 1857. The nation's eyes were fixed on this site, waiting to see what kind of constitution would be drafted and whether Kansas would join the Union as a free or slave state. Visitors to the site can learn more about Jim Lane, the proslavery and free-state forces in the area, and other stories of territorial Kansas at Constitution Hall.

This site offers exhibits, tours, and educational and recreational programs.

Goodnow House State Historic Site

Description

Visitors to the Goodnow House gain a glimpse into domestic life in the 1800s and learn the story of free-staters who wanted organized and equal education for the boys and girls of Kansas. Isaac Goodnow, one of Manhattan's founders, and his wife, Ellen, built this stone farmhouse, which still holds many original furnishings and documents, in the 1860s. Isaac started the Kansas State Teachers Association and established the college that became Kansas State University.

The site offers exhibits and tours.

Kansas African American Museum [KS]

Description

The Kansas African American Museum is dedicated towards preserving the regional culture and lives of the African American population of Kansas. The museum was first created in 1974, and was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Now, the museum boasts a "varied collection of multi-media presentations, rare artifacts, African Art, original sculptures, paintings, musical scores, musical recordings and history of local musicians."

The museum offers exhibits. The website offers information about current exhibits, an online museum store, and information about upcoming events.

Pioneer-Krier Museum

Description

When the Clark County Historical Society was organized in 1939, it was with the understanding that the society should aquire a building to house the relics in their possession. The current Pioneer-Krier Museum was built in 1968, and has served as the museum ever since, with an addition added in 1974 in order to house two of Harold Krier's airplanes.

The site offers virtual tours for all exhibits offered by the museum as well as general museum information.

First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site

Description

This building was the capitol for only four days in 1855, but many believe that the actions of the legislature that met here led directly to the Civil War. Governor Andrew Reeder picked this location, away from the proslavery influence of Missouri, where the legislature would choose a permanent seat of government, create a constitution, and decide if Kansas would be a free or slave state. Instead the legislature kicked out the antislavery members and passed a bill to move the government to Shawnee Mission near the Missouri border. Inside this native stone building visitors will learn the stories of the antislavery and proslavery people of territorial Kansas, set alongside the beauty of the Kaw River Nature Trail.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and educational and recreational events.

Lincoln County Historical Society and Kyne House Museum [Kansas]

Description

The Society maintains this museum in an 1885 limestone house, home to early pioneers Timothy and Bridget Kyne. Among the featured pieces are a pie safe and table that were built by Timothy, as was the house itself. Two additions provide more display space, and the one-room Topsy School is also in the museum complex.

The museum offers exhibits.

Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site

Description

In the 19th century, Americans wanted more land and settlement moved west. For countless Indians, the American thrust for land meant the end of their traditional way of life. The Shawnee Mission was one of many missions established as a manual training school attended by boys and girls from Shawnee, Delaware, and other Indian nations from 1839 to 1862. Visitor to this 12-acre National Historic Landmark can learn the stories of those who lived there.

The site offers exhibits, a short film, and occasional educational and recreational programs.