Trails That Connect Us

1927 Moodie Rd.

Join us for the family-friendly Trails that Connect Us event! Come to the Free State Brewing Bottling Facility on the Burroughs Creek Trail Loop section, located at 1927 Moodie Rd., […]

Online Book Talk: Native Americans After World War I

Drawing from archival sources and oral histories, author Thomas Grillot demonstrates how the relationship between Native American tribes and the United States was reinvented in the years following World War […]

The Munsee Tribe in Kansas

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

Through a grant from Humanities Kansas, the Munsee Tribe in Kansas has embarked on “Niiloona Munsiiw: We Are Munsee,” a cultural preservation project and series of events that will protect […]

Free

On Two Fronts: Kansans Fighting the Great War

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

In this special three-part exhibit, audiences will encounter the harrowing experiences of Kansans in WWI using first-hand accounts, artifacts, and interactives. The ticketed experience features the traveling exhibit, Life in the […]

$10

Tiny Tours: Springtime Planting

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

Tiny Tours are a once-a-month program for children ages 3-5 who have not entered school. The tour focuses on an interactive and a hands-on activities based on Lawrence history. Tour activities […]

Free

Oak Hill Cemetery Tour: Black Civil War Veterans

Oak Hill Cemetery 1605 Oak Hill Ave, Lawrence, Kansas

Join local historian Jeanne Klein for a tour of historic Oak Hill Cemetery. Jeanne will draw on her years of research to present this new tour on Black Civil War […]

$20 – $30

Homeschool History: 19th Century Schooling

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

Looking for a fun event for your homeschool child? The Watkins Museum shares Lawrence history with homeschool students ages 5-12 every month throughout the school year. Each lesson studies a […]

Free

Homeschool History: 19th Century Schooling

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

Looking for a fun event for your homeschool child? The Watkins Museum shares Lawrence history with homeschool students ages 5-12 every month throughout the school year. Each lesson studies a […]

Free

Pocket History Packets Summer Program

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

This summer, the Watkins Museum is offering a new program for Douglas County students who have just finished kindergarten through fifth grade in the latest school year. In June, July, […]

Free

Underground Railroad Bus Tour

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

IMPORTANT UPDATE: All seats have been reserved. Add your name to the waiting list here. Part of the Lawrence Juneteenth Celebration: a new bus tour developed by the Watkins Museum of […]

Free

Lawrence 1933 Walking Tour

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

Update: This tour is sold out. Thank you for your interest! What was it like living in Lawrence during the New Deal and the Great Depression? As we celebrate the […]

What’s That? Wednesdays

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

School’s Out! Want to have fun and see some cool stuff with your friends? Then stop by the Watkins to participate in our newest program What’s That? Wednesdays. Every Wednesday in […]

Free

What’s That? Wednesdays

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

School’s Out! Want to have fun and see some cool stuff with your friends? Then stop by the Watkins to participate in our newest program What’s That? Wednesdays. Every Wednesday in […]

Free

What’s That? Wednesdays

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

School’s Out! Want to have fun and see some cool stuff with your friends? Then stop by the Watkins to participate in our newest program What’s That? Wednesdays. Every Wednesday in […]

Free

Film Screening: “1917”

Lawrence Arts Center 940 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, Kansas

Join us at the Lawrence Arts Center for a screening of the critically acclaimed film 1917. SCHEDULE 12:30 pm | Doors Open 1 pm | Opening Remarks from Watkins Museum of […]

$5

What’s That? Wednesdays

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

School’s Out! Want to have fun and see some cool stuff with your friends? Then stop by the Watkins to participate in our newest program What’s That? Wednesdays. Every Wednesday in […]

Free

Raffle Contest: Historic Lawrence Print

Enter for a chance to win a piece of Lawrence history! This reproduction print of 1859 Lawrence has been custom matted and framed by Framewoods Gallery using antique wood from […]

Disorder on the Border

This August, a broad-based group of historians will again gather to discuss the conflict and casualties of one of the most divisive periods of American history at the Harrisonville Community […]

$35

Book Release Celebration

Merchants Pub & Plate 746 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Join us in celebrating the highly-anticipated book Embattled Lawrence Vol. 2 at Merchants Pub & Plate on Tuesday, August 15. The Raven Book Store will be selling copies of the […]

Food & Agriculture during the Civil War

How did food production and scarcities change the course of history during the American Civil War? Join us for a live online discussion with renowned historian R. Douglas Hurt, author […]

Cemetery Tours

In these two unique and separate walking tours, participants will learn about the cemetery's connection to the Civil War era and the people buried there. Hosted by Lawrence Parks and […]

$25

Quantrill’s Raid Victims Memorial and Historical Talk

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

Join us at the Watkins for the most moving, important event of Civil War on the Border. After a reading by Anthony Boynton, writer and member of B.L.A.C.K. Lawrence, community […]

Free

Bus Tour: Women of Early Lawrence

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

Women played crucial roles leading up to, during, and after the destruction of Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence. Learn the heroic, fascinating stories of Sara Robinson, Jetta Dix, and several other […]

$25 – $35

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, […]

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 […]

$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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

$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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Free