Category: Museum Blog
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‘All Indian Trails Lead to Lawrence’ Photos
In 1926 Kansas photographer Louis Palenske was living and working in Burlington, Kansas when it was announced that Native Americans from across the country would be attending a four-day dedication of a new football stadium at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. The event was advertised under the name, All Indian Trails Lead to Lawrence. While Lawrence…
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Rock Island Railway at Volland, Kansas
Volland, Kansas, had its roots in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, which platted the town located along Mill Creek in Washington Township of Wabaunsee County, Kansas. In addition to creating a depot, which provided passenger and freight service, the railroad also created a railhead, providing a shipping point for cattle being moved in…
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Barn Dancing
An long-standing tradition in the Kansas Flint Hills is the holding of dances inside barns scattered across the rural Kansas prairie. The barns offered an ideal setting when the large hay lofts were empty, providing a large, unobstructed wooden floor. In some cases, such as the Thierer’s barn, located at Volland, Kansas, barns hosted regular dances each weekend.…
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Kansas Territorial Bond
Below is a scan of a Kansas Territorial Bond, dated May 1, 1859, for $100 to secure repayment of debts incurred by the Territorial Government. The bond has attached coupons which allowed the bearer to collect the 10% interest specified in the bond. The bonds had been issued under the pretense of repayment for losses which…
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Rodeo Memories
Ranching has deep roots in Wabaunsee County, and the sport of rodeo has deep roots in ranching. After the workday was done, men and women would compete in various ranching skills from bronc riding to roping and bull riding to barrel racing. Not only did Wabaunsee County host several rodeo arenas, but a good number…
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Albin Longren Lands at Alma
Aircraft manufacturer Albin Longren, long known for conducting exhibition flights throughout Kansas to finance his aircraft manufacturing venture in Topeka, is seen here in three views with his Model AK aircraft in a field near Alma, Kansas. Longren conducted a flying exhibition at Alma, Kansas in the early 1920s to promote his new Model AK…
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Kansas Ghost Town, Keene
Keene, Kansas is located on Kansas Highway 4 about five and a half miles west of Dover, Kansas. Some of the earliest settlers of Wabaunsee County settled a mile east of Keene in 1856 at a small settlement referred to as Fremont, Kansas. One of the earliest businesses in the area was a cheese plant,…
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Dover, Kansas
Dover, Kansas is located on Kansas Highway 4 in the southwest corner of Shawnee County, just a half-mile east of the Wabaunsee County line. Dover has long been a trading center for residents of southeast Wabaunsee County.
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The Barns of Wabaunsee County
Wabaunsee County enjoys a rich ranching heritage which is reflected in the many expansive barns which adorned the landscape. All of late 19th century and early 20th century barns had large hay lofts to accommodate the storage of loose hay. Later, the loft provided storage for small bales of hay. Barns which had cupolas attached…
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Under Construction
These photographs capture the construction of Wabaunsee County’s infrastructure, including the building of commercial buildings, churches, schools and bridges.