Featured
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
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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
Watkins Summer Games!
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesWatkins Summer Games are back! Every Wednesday in June and July, bring your kids age 10 and under to the museum for super fun games, crafts, and dances. AND you […]
Free
Primary Candidates Forum
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States
The East Bottoms: A Landscape History of Lawrence’s Red-Light District
Cider Gallery 810 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesJoin us on Wednesdays in July as Bon Bon holds East Lawrence History Salons at the Cider Gallery, featuring Dennis Domer and guests. Chef Simon Bates and Codi Bates have […]
$100
Downtown through the Decades Walking Tour: July 13
200 W 9th Street Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesDowntown Through the Decades: Exploring Lawrence's Evolution Through Architecture is a roughly 60-minute walking tour of downtown Lawrence that highlights historic architecture hidden among the storefronts and brick buildings downtown. The […]
$15 – $20
Primary Candidates Forum
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesAJ Griffin & Mary Carroll: A Pioneer Partnership, 1867-1907
Cider Gallery 810 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesJoin us on Wednesdays in July as Bon Bon holds East Lawrence History Salons at the Cider Gallery, featuring Dennis Domer and guests. Chef Simon Bates and Codi Bates have […]
$100
Downtown through the Decades Walking Tour: July 20
200 W 9th Street Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesDowntown Through the Decades: Exploring Lawrence's Evolution Through Architecture is a roughly 60-minute walking tour of downtown Lawrence that highlights historic architecture hidden among the storefronts and brick buildings downtown. The […]
$15 – $20
48StateTour: Oak Hill Cemetery
Oak Hill Cemetery 1605 Oak Hill Ave, Lawrence, KansasOur Sewers, Ourselves: Everyday Life in the Open Sewers of Early Lawrence
Cider Gallery 810 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesJoin us on Wednesdays in July as Bon Bon holds East Lawrence History Salons at the Cider Gallery, featuring Dennis Domer and guests. Chef Simon Bates and Codi Bates have […]
$100
Downtown through the Decades Walking Tour: July 27
200 W 9th Street Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesDowntown Through the Decades: Exploring Lawrence's Evolution Through Architecture is a roughly 60-minute walking tour of downtown Lawrence that highlights historic architecture hidden among the storefronts and brick buildings downtown. The […]
$15 – $20
Red Cross Blood Drive
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesYour local American Red Cross is in urgent need of blood donations. Step up and save lives! The Watkins will host a blood drive on Tuesday, July 30. To make […]
Free
Not in My Backyard: 50 Years of Defending East Lawrence
Cider Gallery 810 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesJoin us on Wednesdays in July as Bon Bon holds East Lawrence History Salons at the Cider Gallery, featuring Dennis Domer and guests. Chef Simon Bates and Codi Bates have […]
$100
Lawrence Print Contest!
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesYour chance to own a beautiful piece of Lawrence history! This reproduction print is an early depiction of Lawrence, Kansas, in 1854-55. The framed and matted print measures 41.5 x […]
$10 – $20
Quantrill’s Raid Walking Tours
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesStep back in time to the thrilling, terrifying days of the Civil War. Local historian John Jewell will lead you on a downtown walking tour of sites and stories from […]
$20 – $30
Civil War on the Border
Now in its 29th year, Civil War on the Border is Lawrence’s largest annual history event. This year’s theme is the Civil War in art. We’ll have special exhibits, talks […]
Curator’s Challenge: Quantrill’s Raid & the Watkins Mystery Flag
Here is your chance to experience Quantrill's Raid in art, view a rarely seen artifact, and think like a museum curator! Get your tickets here or pay at the door. […]
The Kansas Save the Flags Project
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesAbout 75 flags from Kansas' involvement in the Civil War are in the collections of the Kansas Historical Society. Tattered and torn, these irreplaceable pieces of Kansas' past need your […]
Free
Zouaves: The Civil War’s Most Colorful Soldiers
In their new book Zouave Theaters: Transnational Military Fashion and Performance, Carol E. Harrison and Thomas J. Brown chart the rise and fall of the Zouave uniform, the nineteenth century’s […]
Free
Presentation by Eric Smallwood: Men’s Summer Clothing in the 1860s
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesOur annual memorial service for the victims of Quantrill's Raid will be followed by a new presentation by clothing historian and tailor Eric Smallwood. Using original pieces from the collection […]
Free
Online Talk with Shae Smith Cox: The Fabric of Civil War Society
Military uniforms, badges, flags, and other material objects have been used to represent the identity of Americans throughout history. In her new book The Fabric of Civil War Society, Shae Smith […]
Free
Bleeding Kansas Bus Tours
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesThe Watkins Museum offers an exciting way to experience the history of early Kansas! In this unique tour, you'll explore sites in Lawrence that witnessed the stirring events of Bleeding […]
$30 – $35
Danger & Glory: The Life of a Civil War Soldier
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesOver three million Americans served in the Civil War, including twenty thousand Kansans. Join us in-person and online as historian Will Haynes tells stories of the adventures and harsh realities […]
Free
Homeschool History: I am a Story
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesBring your kids age 5-10 for a class based on local history! Our first topic of the year will be "I am a Story" (personal and community storytelling). Topics will […]
The Write Bridge Author Expo
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesThis program will be held in-person and also livestreamed on the Watkins Museum Facebook and YouTube.
Free
Hands-On History: Building a Conversation
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesHands-On History is a project-based educational program for middle and high school students aged 11 – 16 years. The program is cumulative and offers students the opportunity to create a […]
Watkins Tiny Tours: Artifacts All Around
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesTiny Tours is a popular, free museum series for kids age 3-5 and their grownups. Activities offer a play-based approach to learning and include stories, crafting, and more! Register your […]
Free
Homeschool History: Journeys in Journaling
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesBring your kids age 5-10 for a class based on local history! Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multisubject when appropriate. Parents may attend […]
Creeping Glaciers and Ancient Oceans: The Geologic Story of Douglas County
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesDid you know you can find fossils just by walking through downtown? Learn this and more with Andy Connolly, educator at the Kansas Geological Survey, who will talk about the […]
Free
Hands-On History: Saving the Last Word
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesHands-On History is a project-based educational program for middle and high school students aged 11 – 16 years. The program is cumulative and offers students the opportunity to create a […]
Unsung Olympians: Behind the Scenes at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesThe Olympic Games celebrate athletic achievement and international cooperation. But the Olympics could never happen without the dedication of thousands of people helping to make the athletes shine. Join us […]
Free
Book Talk with Dr. Bob Dinsdale: “Massachusetts Street”
Lawrence Public Library 707 Vermont St.The Lawrence Public Library is pleased to host a book launch of "Massachusetts Street" by Lawrence physician and founder of lawrencehistorytours.com, Dr. Bob Dinsdale, in partnership with the Watkins Museum. Bob […]
Free
Homeschool History: Symbolism in Storytelling
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesBring your kids age 5-10 for a class based on local history! Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multisubject when appropriate. Parents may attend […]
Book Talk with Dr. Bob Dinsdale: “Massachusetts Street”
Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop 804 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, Kansas, United StatesMass Street has been the heart of Lawrence since its founding in 1854. This is the place to be, the place where people live, shop, parade, protest, and be themselves! […]
Free
Hands-On History: Personal Identity
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesHands-On History is a project-based educational program for middle and high school students aged 11 – 16 years. The program is cumulative and offers students the opportunity to create a […]
Liberating Lawrence: Gay Activism in the 1970s at KU
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesAuthor Kathy Rose-Mockry will speak on the subject of her new book. Liberating Lawrence tells the first-hand story of the Lawrence Gay Liberation Front (LGLF), a KU student organization that began […]
Free
Featured
Watkins Museum Town Hall
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesFounded in 1975, the Watkins will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in spring 2025. Join us as we engage in a conversation about how the Watkins Museum can continue to […]
The Merc Exhibit Reception
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesStop by to view our collaborative exhibit 50 Years of Cooperation: The History of The Merc Co+op and enjoy a photo slideshow and refreshments provided by The Merc!
Free
Homeschool History: Holiday (Halloween) Storytelling
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesBring your kids age 5-10 for a class based on local history! Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multisubject when appropriate. Parents may attend […]
Teachers’ Night at the Watkins Museum
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States
Free
Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesIn June 1863, Harriet Tubman ventured into the heart of slave territory in South Carolina to carry out one of the most daring and extraordinary missions of the Civil War. […]
Free
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
Watkins Museum AFTER DARK!
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United States
$15 – $20
Hands-On History: Identity & Names
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesHands-On History is a project-based educational program for middle and high school students aged 11 – 16 years. The program is cumulative and offers students the opportunity to create a […]
Homeschool History: Sharing Stories Together (Indigenous Peoples’ Month/Oral Tradition)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesBring your kids age 5-10 for a class based on local history! Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multisubject when appropriate. Parents may attend […]
Annual Members’ Meeting
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesMuseum members are invited to our annual meeting. Our theme this year is "Looking Forward." The Watkins turns 50 next April and we want to launch the festivities early! Join […]
$15
The Bowersock Mills and Power Co. 150th Anniversary Friendsgiving
500 S Powerhouse Rd Lawrence, KansasOur friends at the Bowersock Mills and Power Co. are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year! Join us at the Bowersock South Powerhouse for live music by Lyle Griggs, light […]
Free
Winter Clothing Drive
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesHelp your neighbors in need! Now through January 31, we are once again partnering with the Ballard Center on a winter clothing drive. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 […]
Free
Hands-On History: Connecting to the Past, Part 1
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesHands-On History is a project-based educational program for middle and high school students aged 11 – 16 years. The program is cumulative and offers students the opportunity to create a […]
Watkins Tiny Tours: Stories Lead the Way (Maps)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesTiny Tours is a popular, free museum series for kids age 3-5 and their grownups. Activities offer a play-based approach to learning and include stories, crafting, and more! Register your […]
Free
Tails & Traditions Holiday Festival
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesOne of our most popular events returns! Bring the kids inside for holiday-themed crafts and activities, including the famous WATKINS HOBBY HORSES and the return of a new favorite, the […]
Free
Ellie on the Shelf: Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesA holiday favorite returns! From 9 AM-4 PM on December 7, bring the kids to the Watkins to search for little versions of our mascot, Ellie the Electric Car, throughout […]
Free
A Wren’s Tale: Exhibit Reception
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesTwo large concrete wrens once stood at the entrance to a building at 8th and Vermont Streets in Lawrence. What did these birds represent and what happened to them in […]
Free
Homeschool History: Making Stories Stick (Indigenous Peoples’ Month/Oral Tradition)
Watkins Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS, United StatesBring your kids age 5-10 for a class based on local history! Topics will be explored using hands-on activities, art projects, and will be multisubject when appropriate. Parents may attend […]