Atchison County Historical Museum facts for kids
The Atchison County Historical Society Museum is a cool place to learn about the history of Atchison County, Kansas. This museum helps keep the stories of the past alive. Both the city and county of Atchison are named after David Rice Atchison. He was a United States Senator and is famous for a fun legend about being "President for a day."
You can find the museum in the old 1880 Santa Fe Freight Depot in Atchison, Kansas. It's full of interesting exhibits that tell the story of the area. You can learn about famous explorers Lewis and Clark, and pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart. There are also displays about the history of railroads in Atchison County. Don't miss the special exhibit about David Rice Atchison, called the World's Smallest "unofficial" Presidential Library. The museum also has a large collection of military items, including over 200 weapons from different wars.
The Atchison County Historical Society also takes care of the Independence Creek: Lewis & Clark Historic Site. This outdoor area is about 13.5 acres of beautiful native grasses and wildflowers. It even has a recreated Kanza Indian earth lodge. A five-mile hiking and biking trail connects this site to the Atchison riverfront. The museum also hosts special temporary exhibits throughout the year.
About the Atchison County Historical Society
The Atchison County Historical Society started in 1967. Their first museum opened its doors in 1968. The society moved into its current home, the historic 1880 Santa Fe Depot, in 1989. This building used to be a busy train station.
The museum offers programs for all ages. They have evening learning events for adults. They also create special activities for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. There's even a monthly Pioneer Club just for students in 4th to 7th grades.
The "President for a Day" Story
David Rice Atchison was a senator from Missouri. He was very involved in the big debate about whether new states, like Kansas, would allow slavery. Some people even say he helped create the state of Kansas.
Here's the interesting part: some of Atchison's friends claimed he was technically President of the United States for 24 hours! This was supposed to happen from noon on Sunday, March 4, 1849, to noon on Monday. The outgoing President, James Polk, finished his term on Sunday. The new President, Zachary Taylor, refused to be sworn in on a Sunday. His Vice President, Millard Fillmore, also waited.
At that time, Atchison was the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. This meant he was next in line for the presidency. So, for those 24 hours, some believed he was the highest-ranking elected official. The museum's exhibit lets you decide if you think Atchison was president or not. Most people agree he wasn't officially president, but it's a fun story!
Exploring the Lewis and Clark Historic Site
The Independence Creek: Lewis and Clark Historic Site is open every day from sunrise to sunset. It's located about five miles north of Atchison's Main Street. You can get there by car or by using the hiking and biking trail.
This 13.5-acre site has been restored to look like the prairie seen by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Captain William Clark wrote about Independence Creek in his journal on July 4, 1804. A pedestrian bridge connects the site to the Atchison Riverfront, completing the five-mile trail. There's also a recreated Kanza earth lodge from the 1700s. This helps visitors understand the history of the Kanza people who lived there.
