Film Screening: “I’m So Glad: Kansas City and the Roots of Black Gospel Music”

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Join us at the Watkins for this free screening, a partnership with the I'm So Glad Project and the Lawrence Branch NAACP. From its pre-Civil War roots to today, Kansas City's unique style of gospel music has influenced every other genre of American music. And it has sustained the people with its positive message: "I'm […]

Free

Postwar Journeys: Discussing the Vietnam War’s Effects

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

We invite you to join us for a unique two-part program: We'll mark the opening of our exhibit about the postwar lives of Vietnam veterans with discussions involving Hang Le-Tormala, author of Postwar Journeys: American and Vietnamese Transnational Peace Efforts since 1975, and veterans John Musgrave, David Hann, and John Solbach about their postwar experiences. […]

Free

Watkins Museum Book Sale

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Join us in the Watkins Museum's Community Room for a book sale! After completing the archives and research room renovation in 2022, staff conducted an inventory into the materials stored in those spaces. In that inventory we found duplicate copies of books already in the museum’s collections, and several books unrelated to Douglas County history. […]

$1 – $15

Journal Release Celebration

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Help Anamcara Press celebrate the release of their first print journal The Write Bridge: Perilous and Playful, at the Watkins!In addition to celebrating contributing authors and artists, they will introduce you to featured author David Hann and his new book, Bluebirds to Tikal, Stories of Fun, Fear, and Folly.The Summer 2023 edition of The Write Bridge […]

Free

Tiny Tours: Butterflies! Maggie’s Garden to Migration to Mexico

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Each month throughout the school year, the Watkins Museum’s education team offers interactive hands-on activities based on Lawrence history for children ages 3-5 who have not entered school. Tours include story time, videos, time in the galleries, handling artifacts, arts, crafts, and games depending on the month’s topic. Children must be accompanied by an adult […]

Film Screening: Garden City, Kansas

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Life, liberty, and the struggle for America. Join us as we partner with director Bob Hurst on a free screening of his acclaimed documentary, Garden City, Kansas. The film is a gripping exploration of life in a majority-immigrant town, a domestic terrorist plot that threatened the community, and the nature of pluralism in America. Tickets […]

Free

Author Talk with Margie Carr: “Kansas City’s Montgall Avenue”

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Margie Carr’s Kansas City’s Montgall Avenue: Black Leaders and the Street They Called Home is the extraordinary, century-old history of one city block whose residents shaped the changing status of Black people in Kansas City and built the social and economic institutions that supported the city’s Black community during the first half of the twentieth century. This single […]

Tiny Tours: Ways to Have Fun! Amusements in Lawrence

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Each month throughout the school year, the Watkins Museum’s education team offers interactive hands-on activities based on Lawrence history for children ages 3-5 who have not entered school. Tours include story time, videos, time in the galleries, handling artifacts, arts, crafts, and games depending on the month’s topic. Children must be accompanied by an adult […]

Researching Your Ancestors from Scotland and Ireland

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Update: This class is sold out. Thank you for your interest. The first class in our 2023-24 genealogy series. First offered in 2019, this topic is very popular! The presentation will include a large handout listing many online and video resources so you can continue learning after the class. Space is limited; please register in […]

$15 – $25

Book Talk: Forgotten Senator Preston B. Plumb

Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States

Senator Preston B. Plumb is little known today, but in his lifetime he was a legend. Plumb smuggled guns for the Free State movement, pursued Quantrill's raiders, and served Kansas in the U.S. Congress. Join us for a talk with author Johanna D. Wickman about her new book, The Forgotten Senator: The Life and Character […]

Free

Walking Tour of Black Jack Battlefield

Black Jack Battlefield 163 E. 2000 Road, Wellsville, Kansas

Experience the Battle of Black Jack in a walking tour led by legendary 19th century abolitionist John Brown (AKA local historian Kerry Altenbernd). The tour will involve an explanation of the events leading up to the battle, a breakdown of the battle, and a walk through prairie grass paths, so please dress accordingly. Part of Civil […]

Free

Haunting Humanities

Abe & Jake's Landing 8 E 6th St., Lawrence, Kansas

Haunting Humanities--the one-of-a-kind series of presentations, activities, games, and performances during the spooky season--returns to Abe & Jake's! For Haunting Humanities 2023, the Watkins will partner with Bleeding Kansas living historians. Step back in time to join the Fight for Freedom. In 1855, the Wakarusa War began the armed fights over whether to make Kansas […]

Free