Wilson County Kansas Historical Society

05/21/2026

05/20/2026

📣 It’s time once again for our 3rd Wednesday Museum After Hours!

This Wednesday, we’re exploring the story of one of Wilson County’s many social clubs — the Walking Club.

Learn when the club began, who some of its members were, the activities they enjoyed, and even a little of the mischief they managed to get into along the way! 👣

🕖 Join us on Facebook Live at 7 PM as we uncover this fascinating piece of local history.

You won’t want to miss it!

05/19/2026

Thanks to KOAM for highlighting Wilson County history!

Nyd de videoer og den musik, du holder af, upload originalt indhold, og del det hele med venner, familie og verden på YouTube.

05/15/2026

The Wilson County Historical Society & Museum announced that it has received $1,000 in grant funding from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA). The award will help support costs associated with the Moments That Made Us exhibit, currently on display in the first-floor hallway of the Wilson County Courthouse in Fredonia.

Created in recognition of the upcoming America 250 commemoration, Moments That Made Us is a special exhibition exploring how generations of Americans have interpreted and given meaning to the ideals outlined in the Declaration of Independence. Spanning from the colonial era to modern times, the exhibit highlights both challenging and celebratory moments in U.S. history.

The exhibition is organized around five key themes drawn directly from the Declaration of Independence:
• Created Equal
• Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
• Free and Independent States
• Consent of the Governed
• We Mutually Pledge
Through these themes, the exhibit invites visitors to reflect on pivotal events that shaped the nation and to consider how each generation has played a role in defining the American story. It emphasizes that history is not inevitable, but rather shaped by the actions and choices of its people.

Moments That Made Us was developed in collaboration with Arizona America 250, History Colorado, the Oklahoma Historical Society, and the Washington State Historical Society. Additional support for distribution was provided by the California Association of Museums, Kansas Museums Association, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, America 250 Oregon, America’s 250th South Dakota, Humanities Texas, and the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.

The exhibit was made possible through the FFNHA grant awarded to the Wilson County Historical Society & Museum, along with additional community donations.
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.

05/05/2026

Over half of the available spots are full! And there are less than 2 weeks left to sign up for History Camp. If you have been thinking about signing your child up for this fun and educational camp, don't delay!

📣 Announcing 2026 History Camp!
Join us May 26–29 for four fun-filled days of hands-on learning at the Wilson County Historical Museum!
Students entering grades 4–8 this fall—or ages 8–13—are invited to attend. Campers will explore what life was like in Wilson County during the 1940s through interactive activities and guided tours of local historic sites.
💲 Cost: $20 (covers all fees and supplies)
📅 Dates: May 26–29
⏰ Registration deadline: May 15
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to step back in time and experience history firsthand!
👉 Sign up today—spaces are limited!

04/24/2026

📣 History Camp 2026 Update!

Thanks to generous donations, we have received funding for several History Camp 2026 scholarships!

If financial assistance would help make it possible for your child to attend, please let us know—we would love to help.

⏳ Registrations are already coming in, so don’t wait!
Be sure to reserve your child’s spot before spaces fill up.

We can’t wait for another fun and educational camp experience!

04/19/2026

The museum has adopted a new logo. What do you think?

04/15/2026

📣 It’s time once again for our 3rd Wednesday Museum After Hours!

Tonight, we’re diving into the story of one of Wilson County’s landmark locations—Delaware Springs.

Discover where it’s located, how it got its name, who first purchased the land, what mums have to do with it, and more!

🕖 Join us on Facebook Live at 7 PM to uncover the answers and explore this fascinating piece of local history.

Don’t miss it!

04/09/2026

📣 Announcing 2026 History Camp!

Join us May 26–29 for four fun-filled days of hands-on learning at the Wilson County Historical Museum!

Students entering grades 4–8 this fall—or ages 8–13—are invited to attend. Campers will explore what life was like in Wilson County during the 1940s through interactive activities and guided tours of local historic sites.

💲 Cost: $20 (covers all fees and supplies)
📅 Dates: May 26–29
⏰ Registration deadline: May 15

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to step back in time and experience history firsthand!

👉 Sign up today—spaces are limited!

02/18/2026

It's Museum After Hours time again. Today, Wednesday, February 18, we'll be going live at 7pm to share information about the history of the Fredonia Bottling Works.

Find out the earliest known starting date, location(s), proprietors, beverages that were bottled there, and how it came to an end.

In addition to our regular hours, the museum is open Feb. 18 from 6-7:30 pm if you'd like to stop in for a tour and see our collection of bottles from the Fredonia Bottling Works.

02/03/2026

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for these donations! April Engstrom, Laura Fitzmorris, Patricia A Bays, and an anonymous donor have been generous in helping us out. Thank you so much!