Walking Tour: Growing Downtown Lawrence 1850-1910
This walk through downtown Lawrence lets us learn about the early entrepreneurs, architects, social and business leaders who laid the foundation for our city. Just for good measure we'll add […]
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History in a New Light: DCHS 90th Anniversary Fundraiser
Juniper Hill Farm 1547 N 2000 Rd, Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesEnjoy a night of music, pizza, and history at Juniper Hill Farm. All proceeds will benefit the stained-glass window restoration project at the Watkins Museum of History. The project will […]
$75
Halloween at the Watkins
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesOur biggest event of the year returns! Drop by the museum for trick-or-treating and a ghostly scavenger hunt with prizes.
Free
Book Talk: Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesA controversial character largely known (as depicted in the movie Glory) as a Union colonel who led Black soldiers in the Civil War, James Montgomery waged a far more personal and […]
Free
Using Find-A-Grave for Genealogy Research
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesIn this new class, we'll explore this powerful, free website. We'll discuss how to navigate the site to find additional family members and how to collaborate with others by adding […]
$15 – $25
Oak Hill Cemetery Fall Clean Up
Oak Hill Cemetery 1605 Oak Hill Ave, Lawrence, KansasHelp the Oak Hill Cemetery Committee cleanup historic Oak Hill cemetery by picking up sticks and trash, and raking leaves. Please bring your own rakes, gloves, and hand rakes. Bags […]
Free
Author Talk with Tom Clavin: “The Last Outlaws”
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesDon't miss your chance to meet bestselling author Tom Clavin as he discusses his latest book, The Last Outlaws: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang. Copies will be […]
Free
Homeschool History II (Ages 11-16)
Join us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Television Event: Screening & Discussion
Liberty Hall 644 Massachusetts S, Lawrence, KansasJoin us at Liberty Hall on December 4, 2024, for a special screening of Television Event followed by a 40th anniversary reunion Q&A featuring The Day After’s cast and crew […]
$12
War on the Wakarusa: A Living History Event
South Park 1141 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KansasJoin us in South Park for a time traveling adventure! In December 1855, the Wakarusa War began the violent struggle over whether Kansas would become a free or a slave […]
Free
Researching Your Ancestors from Scotland and Ireland
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesOur October 14 class has sold out, so we're offering it again! First offered in 2019, this topic is very popular. The presentation will include a large handout listing many […]
$15 – $25
Tiny Tours: Snow Days: Frightful or Fun?
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesEach 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 […]
Homeschool History II (Ages 11-16)
Join us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
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Lawrence 1970s Project
Since 2020, the Watkins Museum has hosted a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1970s. Events related to the 1970s will be hosted throughout the city until […]
Free
Winter Clothing Drive
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesIn connection with our exhibit Bundle Up: Battling the Cold in 1850s Kansas, the Watkins is partnering with the Ballard Center on a winter clothing drive. During our open hours, […]
Homeschool History II (Ages 11-16)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesJoin us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Bundle Up! Dressing for Winter in Territorial Kansas
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesWhat did settlers wear to survive the harsh winters of 1850s Kansas? In this public talk, Eric Smallwood, 19th-century men's fashion historian and tailor, will use images, historical accounts, and […]
Free
Celebration of William Stafford: Living a Poetic Life
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesWe invite you to the Watkins for the annual celebration of famed Kansas poet William Stafford. This drop-in event features readings by area Kansas and Missouri poets.
Free
Homeschool History I (Ages 5-10)
Join us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Tiny Tours: Friendship for All: Being Inclusive
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesEach 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 […]
Scavenger Hunt Saturdays!
A great activity for kids up to age 10. Every Saturday at the Watkins is Scavenger Hunt Saturday: Drop by the museum to search for objects around the building and […]
Free
Homeschool History II (Ages 11-16)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesJoin us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Homeschool History I (Ages 5-10)
Join us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Introduction to Genealogy
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesGenealogy is one of the most popular hobbies in the US. We want to help you get started! Our resident genealogist, Alisa Branham, has been teaching classes at the Watkins […]
$15 – $25
Vietnam Veterans Exhibit Talk with Pat Donahue
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesIn connection with our exhibit Soldiers Return: Coming Home from Vietnam, former US Marine Pat Donahue has generously agreed to give a short gallery talk discussing his life during and after […]
Free
Tiny Tours: Magical Music: Hands-On Instruments
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesEach 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 […]
Homeschool History II (Ages 11-16)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesJoin us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Homeschool History I (Ages 5-10)
Join us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Oak Hill Cemetery Cleanup Day
Oak Hill Cemetery 1605 Oak Hill Ave, Lawrence, KansasThe Oak Hill Cemetery Committee invites you to help with spring cleanup! Volunteers will assist with raking leaves and picking up branches and trash. The committee will provide leaf bags. […]
Tiny Tours: Critters of Kansas: Animals of All Kinds
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesEach 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 […]
Stories For All Festival
Lawrence Public Library 707 Vermont St.Stories for All: A Digital Storytelling Project for the Twenty-First Century brings together over forty Kansas-based partner projects dedicated to gathering marginalized and suppressed histories, interconnecting them, and sharing them widely […]
Free
Homeschool History II (Ages 11-16)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesJoin us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Jennie Brooks: A Nature Lover in Lawrence
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesJoin us as historian Jeanne Klein speaks about Jennie Brooks (1853-1934), a local woman who studied plants and wildlife, published widely on them, and was one of the first observers […]
Lawrence Earth Day Fair
South Park 1141 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KansasThe City of Lawrence and the Watkins Museum invite you to the annual Lawrence Earth Day Fair! This free event will happen in South Park and feature lots of earth-friendly […]
Free
Watkins Building Print Contest!
Enter for a chance to win a piece of Lawrence history! This framed blueprint of the Watkins Building was created by the Historic American Buildings Survey ca. 1960-1975. The framed […]
Tiny Tours: Life in a Cabin: Small Living
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesEach 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 […]
Homeschool History II (Ages 11-16)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesJoin us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Poster Sale
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesWe're holding a poster sale! We have deaccessioned duplicate copies of posters and other archival materials already in the museum’s collections and several posters unrelated to Douglas County history. All […]
Homeschool History I (Ages 5-10)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesJoin us at the Watkins Museum for classes based on Lawrence and/or Douglas County History. Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multi-subject when appropriate. Parents […]
Online Talk: How Do You Conserve a Cemetery?
Join us on the Watkins Facebook and YouTube as we talk with Lucinda Linderman, Sculpture Conservator with Pacific Coast Conservators, and Kerry Altenbernd of the Oak Hill Cemetery Committee about […]
Lawrence Poetry Fair
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesThe 11th annual Lawrence Poetry Fair will be hosted at the Watkins. Poets and poetry aficionados, lovers of spring and dancing in the rain among flowers, please join us as […]
Free
Walking Tour: Founders of Oak Hill Cemetery
Oak Hill Cemetery 1605 Oak Hill Ave, Lawrence, KansasLeslie Beesley of the Oak Hill Cemetery Committee will present her popular walking tour of this Lawrence landmark site and the people responsible for creating it. The tour will begin […]