The Gordon Parks Museum

04/29/2026

Wow! What an incredible night and an amazing turnout for the Fort Scott Stories Red Carpet Film Premiere this past Saturday! Fort Scott, you truly showed up and showed out, with well over 500 people in attendance to experience the extended director’s cut of this powerful documentary.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who joined us for this special evening and helped make the premiere such a success. We are especially grateful to Josh Ramsey, Dennis Deutch, Veretta Cobler, Holmtown Pub, the City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College, Steve Denton and the entire Maintenance Department, Vanessa Poyner, Larry Guerrero, Great Western Dining Services, and all those who made donations to the museum. Your support not only helped offset the costs of this premiere, but also allows us to continue offering meaningful events like this at an accessible cost for our community.

A special thank you to Professor Michael Cheers for his continued investment in the Fort Scott community and for creating such a remarkable film. Inspired by Gordon Parks, his work beautifully captures the essence of Fort Scott, weaving together the past, present, and future to tell some compelling and powerful stories that resonate deeply.

Be sure to check out our photo album on our page and website to relive the evening!

Also stay tuned for the Smugmug link, that will be coming soon to download photos.

Thank you Everyone!

04/29/2026

04/22/2026

We would like to extend a special thank you to Shelly and Rick Mayhew for their generous support, which made it possible for me and my daughter, Jolee Sharp, to attend the Birth of the Blues concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City this past weekend.

During our visit, we had the incredible opportunity to meet and share lunch with two iconic jazz legends, Wynton Marsalis and Victor Goines, both of whom created some musical arrangements for the performance. Wynton, the founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center, also serves as its Managing and Artistic Director, and after nearly 40 years of leadership, this will be his final year in that role.

This trip was especially meaningful for me, as I was able to share the experience with my daughter, Jolee. We also had the chance to tour the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the venue that hosts the Heisman Trophy Awards ceremony, where the room’s stunning windows offer breathtaking views of the New York City skyline.

It was truly a memorable and inspiring experience, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity.

04/16/2026

Child and Doll, Anson County, North Carolina, 1985⁠⁠⁠⁠

04/12/2026

Had a great time spending time with Charles Cooksey, Gordon’s great-nephew, and Justen LeRoy, curator of the Sound of Gordon Parks exhibition at the California African American Museum.

Be sure to make plans to experience this powerful and thoughtfully curated exhibition by Justen LeRoy, on view now through September 13, 2026.

For more information about the exhibit click the link below

https://caamuseum.org/exhi.../2026/the-sound-of-gordon-parks

04/08/2026

https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/event-details/fort-scott-stories-documentary-film-premiere

04/07/2026

Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant awarded to The Gordon Parks Museum

The Gordon Parks Museum received $1,000 in grant funding from Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area, Inc. This award will help to support a project focused on enhancing visitor experience, accessibility, and engagement through expanded promotional materials, interactive elements, and interpretive resources.

The grant will fund the production of 4,000 rack cards promoting the Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church Commemorative Park, helping visitors better understand its historical significance. Additional improvements include the purchase of heavy-duty metal easels (8–12 inches) for exhibit displays and four large “Museum Open/Welcome” feather-style flags to increase visibility and guide visitors to the museum.

“We are very honored to be selected as a recipient of the Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant,” said Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director Kirk Sharp. “We are excited to begin this project and further enhance the visitor experience both in our museum and during our events.”

The museum anticipates having the rack cards, easels, and welcome flags installed and available for visitors by May 29, 2026.
For more information about the Gordon Parks Museum, visit gordonparkscenter.org

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) is a federally funded nonprofit organization and affiliate of the National Park Service dedicated to building awareness of the struggle for freedom along the Missouri-Kansas border. Established by Congress in 2006, its nationally significant themes are the settlement of the frontier, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and the enduring struggle for freedom. These diverse, interwoven, and nationally important stories grew from a unique physical and cultural landscape. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers residents to preserve and share these stories. We achieve our goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors.

04/05/2026

Be sure to get your Free tickets soon, by going to the Gordon Parks Museum website event page. You do not want to miss this great chance to see this wonderful full featured documentary.

The Gordon Parks Museum, in partnership with photojournalist and documentary filmmaker D. Michael Cheers, recipient of the 2025 Choice of Weapons Award, prou...

04/05/2026

Be sure to make plans and register to attend the film premiere of Fort Scott Stories on Saturday, April 25, 2026. General admission doors will open at 6:30 p.m. followed by the film screening at 7:00 p.m. General admission is FREE and open to the public. Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated in support of our ongoing programs and initiatives

To register and reserve your free ticket, go to our website at
https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/.../fort-scott-stories...

Fort Scott Stories offers a compelling and intimate portrait of present-day Fort Scott, capturing the heartbeat, character, and vibrancy of a community rich in history, resilience, and diverse cultural experiences. Through the voices of residents spanning generations, from youth to elders, business owners to church members, the documentary weaves together authentic narratives that reflect both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life in Fort Scott that reflects the city’s enduring spirt.

The Gordon Parks Museum, in partnership with photojournalist and documentary filmmaker D. Michael Cheers, recipient of the 2025 Choice of Weapons Award, proudly presents the premiere of Fort Scott Stories, a feature-length documentary inspired by Gordon Parks.

04/02/2026

03/31/2026

I had the great opportunity to meet Ernie Hudson, Carl Lumbly, and Keith David (not pictured) at Planet Comicon in Kansas City, this past weekend. It was a pleasure to talk with them about the Gordon Parks Museum, located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott.