Butler County Historical Society Home of the Kansas Oil Museum

Butler County Historical Society Home of the Kansas Oil Museum 100 Years of History on 10 Acres! The rich history of Butler County and El Dorado come alive at the Butler County History Center and Kansas Oil Museum.

Visit the museum today for inspiring exhibits on the Flint Hills, the history of Kansas oil discovery, and much more. An outdoor Oil Boom Town represents the height of 1920s oil towns that sprang up overnight to provide housing for the droves of people that came to Butler County to find their fortunes in black gold. Working antique oil equipment is featured on the ten-acre grounds as well as the o

ldest log cabin in the county, a garage full of early 20th century automobiles, and stately representations of our beautiful state tree, the Cottonwood. Indoors, our main gallery boasts a stunning exhibition on the Flint Hills, Butler County history, and oil development. The Rolla A. Clymer Research Library serves as a valuable research tool for anyone looking for more information about family, local, or state history. A small admission is charged to see the museum. Our museum is wheelchair accessible, although some outdoor buildings are not.

El Dorado had two kinds of gold.Long before oil transformed El Dorado, agriculture was already shaping the community.The...
09/06/2026

El Dorado had two kinds of gold.

Long before oil transformed El Dorado, agriculture was already shaping the community.

Then came 1915 and the discovery at Stapleton Number One.

The rest is a story of boomtowns, oil fields, Oil Hill, refineries, agriculture, challenges, change, and a community that refused to disappear.

Join Mayor Bill Young for our September Speaker Series as he explores “The Two Kinds of Gold That Built El Dorado.”

📅 September 17 | 🕛 Noon
📍 Kansas Oil Museum

Sponsored by Commerce Bank.

🥪 Lunch from BrewCo is available by pre order through the museum.

September Homeschool DaysThis month, we’re taking Homeschool Days outside the museum walls and into the world of public ...
09/05/2026

September Homeschool Days

This month, we’re taking Homeschool Days outside the museum walls and into the world of public art!

Substitute volunteer Robyn Higgins will lead students in exploring the artwork and sculptures found around our community. Then, students will get the chance to create some art of their own at several hands on art stations.

It’s a great opportunity to learn, explore, and get creative while looking at the art we encounter around us every day!

📅 Friday, September 18
📍 Kansas Oil Museum

Bring your homeschoolers and come create with us! 🎨

15 SONGS. SO MANY WAYS TO SHINE. What if your child could perform songs from Legally Blonde, The Little Mermaid, High Sc...
09/05/2026

15 SONGS. SO MANY WAYS TO SHINE.

What if your child could perform songs from Legally Blonde, The Little Mermaid, High School Musical, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, Oliver!, Into the Woods and MORE… all in one show?!

That's exactly what we're doing this fall with Broadway Junior Revue: Raise Your Voice!

There will be opportunities for solos, featured performers, small groups, student MCs, AND a full ensemble.

Whether your child has been on stage for years or has never performed before, we'd love to have them join us!

🎭 Auditions: September 10
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM | Come & Go
📍 Kansas Oil Museum EEC

Auditioning is only required for students who want a featured role or MC position. Ensemble members do not have to audition.

Sign up:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmaSFVKeD4NIEtwdP357Ky2_iJvW5p2MFwb6n1_JLS4AIvGQ/viewform?usp=dialog

🎟️ Performances: December 11–13

☕️ Coffee & Collections is one week away!This month, Carol Turner is taking us into the fascinating world of Ralph Gfell...
09/04/2026

☕️ Coffee & Collections is one week away!

This month, Carol Turner is taking us into the fascinating world of Ralph Gfeller’s pencil collection.

With more than 3,000 pencils in the collection, there is no shortage of stories to uncover. Carol has been carefully examining them one by one and discovering pencils connected to celebrities, politicians, athletes, businesses, and some pretty interesting people.

It's proof that museum collections don't always look like what you expect!

📅 Friday, September 11
⏰ 10:15–11:15 AM
📍 Kansas Oil Museum

And for those who can't join us in person, we'll be livestreaming this month's Coffee & Collections on YouTube!

Big News for Genealogy Researchers!The Kansas Oil Museum is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, giving our research li...
09/04/2026

Big News for Genealogy Researchers!

The Kansas Oil Museum is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, giving our research library visitors access to additional digital genealogical records that may not be available when searching from home.

FamilySearch is an incredible resource for anyone researching family history, and affiliate libraries can provide access to certain historical record images that are otherwise restricted to FamilySearch centers or affiliate locations.

That means if you're researching your family tree, looking for information about ancestors who lived in Butler County, or simply curious about where your family came from, the Kansas Oil Museum can now be another stop in your research journey.

You can create a free FamilySearch account and begin your research online before visiting us. When you find records with restricted access, you may be able to view them while using FamilySearch at the museum.

📚 Come explore, research, and see what you can discover!

Learn more and start your research at FamilySearch.org.

Our September newsletter made its way to inboxes yesterday, and this month is packed with stories, people, and updates f...
09/03/2026

Our September newsletter made its way to inboxes yesterday, and this month is packed with stories, people, and updates from around the Kansas Oil Museum!

Inside this issue, you’ll find:
👤 A Humans of the Museum spotlight featuring Board President Travis Holcomb
🎨 Details about our October Art at the Museum event
🚚 The fascinating and dangerous history behind the Nitro Truck
🏭 The story of a miniature refinery from our collection
📜 A look at Jane Wentworth’s 1869 teaching certificate

Not on our email list yet? This is a great time to join! We love having a way to share the stories behind the museum, upcoming programs, and what’s happening behind the scenes with our community.

And if you’re already subscribed but didn’t see it yesterday, be sure to check your junk or spam folder!

Thank you for continuing to follow along, support the museum, and help us preserve the stories of Butler County.

WAIT… DO I HAVE TO AUDITION?Nope! ❤️One of the things we’re doing differently this fall is making sure there is a place ...
09/03/2026

WAIT… DO I HAVE TO AUDITION?

Nope! ❤️

One of the things we’re doing differently this fall is making sure there is a place for EVERY student who wants to be on stage.

Students only need to audition if they want to:
🎤 Be featured in one or more songs
🎭 Audition for a student MC role
⭐ Take on a larger speaking/singing opportunity

If your child would rather sing and perform as part of the ensemble, they can join without auditioning!

And because this is a musical revue, students can be featured in one song and then jump into the ensemble for another. There are so many opportunities to get on stage and try something new!

Auditions: September 10 | 5:30–7:30 PM
Come & go — no need to stay the entire time.

Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmaSFVKeD4NIEtwdP357Ky2_iJvW5p2MFwb6n1_JLS4AIvGQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Come join us! 🎶

The Jessie Perry Stratford Writing Contest is coming up!During our August Homeschool Day, we spent some time getting rea...
09/02/2026

The Jessie Perry Stratford Writing Contest is coming up!

During our August Homeschool Day, we spent some time getting ready for this year’s writing contest. We talked about who Jessie Perry Stratford was, learned a little about her connection to Butler County, and practiced several different types of writing to help students start thinking about what they might want to submit.

If you’re a teacher or homeschool parent who would like to incorporate the writing contest into your classroom or lessons, I’d be happy to share the lesson template we used, along with a short biography about Jessie Perry Stratford to help introduce students to her story.

The goal is not just to enter a contest, but to give students an opportunity to learn about someone from their own community and use their creativity to tell a story of their own.

If you’d like the lesson materials, send us a message and we’ll be happy to get them to you!

And start thinking about what you want to write! ✏️📚

ART GATHERING IS BACK!Join us for our September Art Gathering on Saturday, September 19 at the Kansas Oil Museum!These m...
09/02/2026

ART GATHERING IS BACK!

Join us for our September Art Gathering on Saturday, September 19 at the Kansas Oil Museum!

These monthly gatherings are a chance to slow down, get creative, and spend some time with fellow art lovers. Whether you consider yourself an artist or just like to make things, you’re welcome!

Our Art Gatherings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month and are led by our wonderful volunteer, Ravin Young.

📅 Saturday, September 19
🎨 Kansas Oil Museum
✨ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Bring your creativity and let’s make something!

Your story. Your art. Your voice.Our second Voices of Butler County Café Night was such a wonderful evening, and looking...
09/01/2026

Your story. Your art. Your voice.

Our second Voices of Butler County Café Night was such a wonderful evening, and looking back at these photos, I’m reminded of just how many different ways there are to tell a story.

Throughout the evening, we heard short stories, autobiographical writing, poetry, personal reflections, and local history, along with a featured presentation from author Autumn Hearne. We also had original artwork on display for guests to enjoy throughout the evening, and Sandra had a table set up where guests could learn more about her books.

We also had the opportunity to recognize something especially meaningful to our museum and community. Angie Schreiber shared the story of her parents, Joe and Virginia Moreland, as we dedicated the memorial recently placed on the Energy Education Center wall in their honor:

“In Honor of Joe and Virginia Moreland – Champions of Learning and Discovery.”

That dedication was a beautiful reminder that the history we preserve isn't just about dates and artifacts. It is about the people who invested in their families, their communities, education, discovery, and the future of Butler County.

That is exactly what we hope Voices of Butler County can continue to celebrate. This program isn't limited to one kind of art or one kind of story. It is a place for people to share something they've created, experienced, remembered, or connected to Butler County in their own unique way.

A huge thank you to all of our presenters, artists, authors, and everyone who came out to listen and support them. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make the evening special. ❤️

📅 Our next Voices of Butler County Café Night will be Saturday, October 24!

If you've been creating something you'd like to share, start thinking about what you might bring. Poetry, writing, storytelling, music, visual art, scripts, and other creative works are welcome.

Your story. Your art. Your voice. We want to hear it.

Address

383 E Central Avenue
El Dorado, KS
67042

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+13163219333

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