Kansas Museum of History
The Kansas State Historical Society, founded in 1875, began collecting newspapers, manuscripts, and objects from its beginnings. The Society was originally located in the Kansas State Capitol in downtown Topeka. The Society's space expanded over time and including a reading room and displays. The new Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall opened across the street in 1914.
The Memorial Building eventually provided the third and fourth floor for museum exhibits. These displays became favorites with visitors. As the collections of the Society outgrew these spaces, plans were made to move the museum functions of the Society to west Topeka where the Potawatomi Mission was located.
The Kansas Museum of History was established in 1984. The new space would include a main gallery, special exhibits gallery, and storage for the collections. The new Museum opened only with a special exhibit, Samples of Our Heritage. Through a phased opening timeline, the main gallery opened in sections. Prehistory to 1854 (Phase I), opened in 1985; history from 1854 to 1865 (Phase II) opened in 1986; history from 1920 to 1980s (Phase III) opened in 1987; and the final section, 1865 to 1920 (Phase IV), which included the Santa Fe locomotive, Cyrus K. Holliday, opened in 1989.
The Junior League of Topeka launched an effort to open Discovery Place, a hands-on gallery for children in 1986. The division hired an experienced, professional staff. National awards were received for the Museum's interpretive exhibits and programming.
The Museum exhibits and collections depicted a chronology of Kansas history. This had become one of the top Kansas tourist attractions, among the most-visited museums in the state, and the one dedicated to telling the state's history. It was voted one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas History by the citizens of Kansas.The Museum closed its doors for major renovations in September 2022.
The Kansas Museum of History of 2025 changed that chronological experience to one organized by themes. Those themes ask visitors to consider What is Kansas? What was Kansas? and Why Kansas? The thematic sections are Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War; Making Kansas, about living and working in this place; Connecting Kansas, with a focus on the role of the train in our state's history; Changing Kansas, how Kansans have fought for reforms; and Celebrating Kansas, bringing together communities and honoring our traditions.
Entry: Kansas Museum of History
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: November 2012
Date Modified: November 2025
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
