McPherson Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1968 |
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| Location | McPherson, Kansas |
The McPherson Museum in McPherson, Kansas, is a special place that helps us remember and understand the history and culture of the McPherson community. It's like a treasure chest filled with stories from the past!
How the Museum Started
The McPherson Museum opened its doors in 1968. It was created through a partnership between McPherson College and the city of McPherson. They wanted to build a museum together.
At first, the museum's collections were kept in the Vaniman home. This house was located at 1130 East Euclid. Later, in 1985, a group called the McPherson Museum and Arts Foundation was formed. This group took over running the museum.
In 2013, the museum moved to a brand new building. This new home is at 1111 East Kansas Avenue. All the museum's amazing collections are now displayed there.
What You Can See: The Museum's Collections
The items you see at the McPherson Museum have a long history. Some of the oldest pieces came from McPherson College. As early as 1890, students and teachers at the college started collecting rocks, fossils, and other natural items. These were displayed in different places on the college campus.
In 1967, something very important happened. The Jacob Strausz family from Moundridge, Kansas, gave over 400 pioneer artifacts to the city of McPherson. They had one condition: a museum had to be created to show these items.
So, in 1968, the city of McPherson and McPherson College combined their collections. This is how the McPherson Museum was officially created. It was made for everyone in the McPherson community to enjoy.
Since then, the museum's collections have grown a lot! Today, the McPherson Museum has about 25,000 items. These items cover many interesting topics, such as:
- Geology: The study of Earth's rocks and minerals.
- Paleontology: The study of ancient life, like dinosaurs and fossils.
- Pioneer History: Stories and items from the early settlers who lived here.
- Fine Art: Beautiful paintings, sculptures, and other artworks.
- Native American History: Information and artifacts about the first people who lived in this area.
- Local History: Everything about the history of McPherson itself.
