Finney County Historical Museum

05/08/2026

SIGNATURE QUILTS

A new exhibit opened recently in the Front Door Gallery at the Finney County Historical Museum, featuring a collection of signature quilts that illustrate a unique American craft practiced widely across the United States. Signature quilts date to the mid-19th century, with printed or written names stitched or embroidered into the individual quilt squares. The exhibit includes eight quilts, dating back to the 1920s, with one completed as recently as 2025. Most were assembled by different women's groups in Finney, Pawnee, Rooks, Sedgwick, Steven and other Kansas counties. Among them are a friendship quilt spanning four generations, another begun during the 1930s for Larned resident Mary Froetschner ; and a Dresden Plate quilt with 20 names from the Pierceville community that dates to 1941. Along with the others, there is a unique two-sided quilt completed in redent years by Christy Van Zant of Montezuma, but started by the present owner's great grandmother to record various members of her family.

Special thank you to the following individuals and businesses for providing elements of the exhibit:
Donna and Norman Christensen
Gary and Susan Condit, who operate Salvaged Treasures
Carol (Richards) Deaver
Stacy Fickel of Just Sew Fickel
Tony Harris of the Antique and Comic Shoppe,
Erica and James McNutt
Tammy Wilson
Christy Van Zant
Vintage Vibe Store
Nancy Curry

04/13/2026

Time to get your tickets for the Finney County Hidtirical Society's Annual Banquet. Call to reserve your tickets at 620-272-3664 or stop by the museum front desk.

04/06/2026

Congratulations to James "Jim" and Maurita Koerperich and their family on being chosen for the 2026 Finney County Historical Society's Horizon Award. The Koerperiches are Western Kansas natives who arrived in Finney County approximately 55 years ago and opened J&M Paint and Decorating Center in 1974. Their business, located at 1615 Buffalo Jones Avenue, now serves customers from Eastern Colorado to Central Kansas, including Southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. The couple's five grown children are part of the Garden City and Marienthal communities.

04/03/2026

03/02/2026

Southwest Kansans can view some rarely seen historical artifacts and try for up to 10 unique prizes at the 2026 Forgotten Times Exhibit and Prize Drawing, set for 1 to 4 p.m. March 14 in the Mary Regan Conference Room at the Finney County Historical Museum in Garden City

-Admission is free

-One-day display of museum artifacts not usually available for viewing. Items brought out from storage for viewing will range from antique and vintage glassware, appliances, fi****ms, railroad hardware and tools to signage and household objects, as well as 19th and early 20th Century photographs.
-Refreshments will be available.

-The prize drawing segment of the day will feature collectible, vintage and accurate facsimile objects donated by friends, members and supporters of the Finney County Historical Society. No items are from the museum’s collection

-Prizes include but are not limited to:
-a six-foot, handcrafted solid walnut china cabinet with display shelving, drawers and secretary-style front opening dating to about 1970;
-four-foot Victorian scroll-back style metal garden bench
-100th anniversary collection of Route 66 items, including a hand-crafted pillow and lap blanket, coffee table Route 66 history book, book valet with mug, tea, tissue holder and related items.
-a rustic pair of 20-inch spoked metal wheels dating back more than 100 years 1
-12-inch diameter reproduction Packard automobile service sign; and what organizers termed “$100 in old-fashioned cash.”

Drawing tickets are on sale at the museum now and during the event until about 3:30 p.m. the day of the gathering.
Anyone entering the drawing may designate his or her tickets toward any of the specific prizes or have their tickets distributed at random between all 10. It’s not necessary to be present to win, but winners are responsible for picking up their prizes by March 31 or covering shipping costs.

-Cash or checks are accepted, and tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or 12 for $10.

-Proceeds will support museum exhibits and FCHS programs and services for the community.

The event is sponsored by the Garden City Telegram, along with John and Angelica Chappel, Commerce Bank, Fry Eye Associates, Garnand Funeral Home, Golden Plains Credit Union, Oswalt Appraisals LLC, Rhonda Stone, Unger’s Heating and Air Conditioning and Edward Jones Financial Advisor Preston Johnson. Prizes have been donated by Frances O’Brate, Mark and Linda Hinde, Stone, Janet and Roger Reed, Tyler Thon, Johnson’s Edward Jones agency and anonymous supporters.

Detailed prize lists with descriptions are available at the museum, where exhibit hours are 1-5 p.m. seven days weekly and offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

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03/02/2026

Save the Date!!!!1

02/14/2026

Horse Thief Reservoir! Thank you for sharing our history!!!

02/14/2026

Lee Richardson Zoo history!

02/14/2026

Station 3!!!

02/14/2026

Sharing our Garden City history! Thank You Christopher Kirkham Photography!

09/29/2025

New Record-3 hours!!!!