Kansas Museum of History facts for kids
The museum's entrance in 2015
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| Established | 1984 |
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| Location | 6425 SW 6th Avenue; Topeka, Kansas 66615 |
| Type | State historical museum |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
| Owner | Kansas Historical Society |
The Kansas Museum of History is the official state history museum located in Topeka, Kansas. It tells the story of Kansas from ancient times to today. The museum has about 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) of exhibits.
Inside, you can find amazing things like a real train from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. There is also a full-sized Southern Cheyenne tipi and a 1950s-style diner. The museum explores important topics like the history of Native American tribes in the area. It also covers the pioneers who traveled west on the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail. Other exhibits focus on the Bleeding Kansas era before the Civil War and Kansas's role in the war.
Please note: The museum closed in September 2022 for major renovations and is scheduled to reopen to the public in November 2025.
Contents
History of the Museum
The museum is part of the Kansas Historical Society. This group was started in 1875 by newspaper editors to help save the state's history. The museum's first home was inside the Kansas State Capitol building.
A New Building
In the 1980s, a new building was constructed just for the museum's collections and exhibits. This building, the Kansas Museum of History, opened in 1984. It sits on a large 80 acres (320,000 m2) piece of land in west Topeka. Besides the exhibit galleries, the building has a museum store, classrooms, and special labs where historical items are cared for and new exhibits are built.
In the mid-1990s, the other parts of the Kansas Historical Society moved into a new building next to the museum. Now, the entire area includes nature trails for walking, a conference center, and a historic one-room schoolhouse used for school programs.
Renovations for the Future
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In September 2022, the museum closed for a huge renovation project. The goal was to make the museum even better for visitors. Workers carefully moved thousands of artifacts out of the building to keep them safe.
The renovation plan included adding a new ramp to make it easier for everyone to get around. The galleries were also rearranged by theme, instead of just by date. This helps tell the story of Kansas in a new and exciting way. The project needed more funding for engineering costs, which caused some delays. The museum's grand reopening was postponed to November 2025.
Exhibits and Cool Artifacts
Before the renovation, the museum's galleries were set up in time order. They covered different periods of Kansas history, from early people who lived there thousands of years ago to the recent past.
The museum has many important and fascinating objects on display. Some of the most famous items include:
- A pike (a type of spear) that belonged to John Brown, an important anti-slavery figure.
- Riding boots worn by George Armstrong Custer, a famous U.S. Army officer.
- A hammer used by Carrie A. Nation, who fought against the sale of alcohol.
- The printing press of William Allen White, a well-known newspaper editor.
- The World War II field jacket worn by Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was a five-star general and later became President of the United States.
The museum's collection also has one of the country's largest collections of Civil War flags from African American soldiers. At least one of these historic flags is always on display.
Awards and Recognition
The Kansas Museum of History has won many "Awards of Merit" for its excellent exhibits. This is the highest honor given by the American Association for State and Local History. The museum is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, which means it meets very high standards for museums in the United States.
See also
