Harper Museum and Runnymede Church

Harper Museum and Runnymede Church The Harper Museum and Runnymede Church are managed by The Harper City Historical Society, 620-243-2775. Open Thursdays 2:00-4:00 or by appt.

Friends of the Harper Historical Society, our museum building is in need of new siding and roofing. We'll be applying fo...
05/02/2026

Friends of the Harper Historical Society, our museum building is in need of new siding and roofing. We'll be applying for grants to fund the projects, but those grants are contingent on our providing matching funds. We'd be so grateful if you'd consider *making a donation to the museum*. (donation link in comments)

Now through May 21, the Harper County Community Foundation and the Patterson Family Foundation will provide a 50% MATCH! For every $100 donated, we get $150. If you're considering supporting the historical society this year, this month is the best month! (donation link in comments)

[Important] Please make a note on the online donation page that you'd like your funds to go to the Harper Museum. Or make a note on your check and mail it to: Harper County Community Foundation, PO Box 5, Anthony, KS 67003

❤️ Last year, with the assistance of a Harper County Community Foundation grant, we were able to purchase an HVAC unit for the museum and a new roof for the beautiful Runnymede Church. We appreciate our donors! ❤️

Museum volunteer Kim (Vickers) Lozano did some research at the Kansas State Historical Society recently and got to go be...
04/17/2026

Museum volunteer Kim (Vickers) Lozano did some research at the Kansas State Historical Society recently and got to go behind the scenes to see the crazy quilt made by Mary Martin (married to Dr. Henry Martin. Scroll down our page to see the home she bought in Harper).

Come visit the museum on Thursdays!
04/02/2026

Come visit the museum on Thursdays!

Fun update on our recent post about the Kaufman House: Our volunteers did some sleuthing and found out that the house wa...
03/14/2026

Fun update on our recent post about the Kaufman House: Our volunteers did some sleuthing and found out that the house was located at 213 E. Main, so just east of the American Legion Building. Do a drive-by to see where it stood!

Also, we reported that the house was later owned by Dr. Henry Martin. But we found an article that says the house was purchased in 1886 by MRS. Martin.

More Harper history tidbits coming soon...

Joseph Kaufman was a major investor in the Rothwell Opera House (see previous post). He built this home on East Main bef...
02/19/2026

Joseph Kaufman was a major investor in the Rothwell Opera House (see previous post). He built this home on East Main before marrying Annie Augustine in 1884. From "The Harper County Times" report about their wedding at the Patterson House (Rosalea's Hotel)—

"Last Wednesday evening, the Patterson House was all aglow with light and beauty, thronged with over two hundred guests...the event was the grandest social event of the kind ever witnessed in Harper...The bride looked charming in electric blue silk, trimmed in cream guipure lace, tulle veil, and wreath of orange blossoms."

The Reception Menu:
Oyster soup, California salmon with mayonnaise dressing, Oysters (fried, escalloped, stewed, raw), Sugar-cured ham, Roast beef, Cold roast chicken, Saddle southdown mutton, Current jelly, Croquets of chicken, Lyonaise potatoes, Potato salad, Lobster salad, Tomato Catsup, Chow-chow, Assorted pickles, Horse radish, Pickled beets, Sardines with sliced lemons, Macedone of fruit, Kisses, Fruit cake, Orange baskets of Charlotte Russe, Lady cake, Lemon jelly, Sponge cake, Pound cake, Assorted candies, Fruits, Vanilla ice cream

The Wedding Gifts:
Jewel case, Campbell's poems, Silver castor, Silver napkin rings, Gold-lined card receiver, Chinese embroidered satin fan pin cushion, Elegant cake stand, Silver iced water pitcher, Gold-lined spoon holder, Silver butter dish, double pickle castor, Plush frame, Scott's poems, Silver fruit knives, Shakespeare's works, Burns' poems and letters, Silver bell, Set of vases, China set of sixty six pieces, Dressing case, Silver card receiver, Bed spread, album, Ottoman, Table linen, Ebony towel rack, Quilt, Mats and fancy work, Large clock, Gold watch chain and charm, Silver cake basket, Majolica set, Family Bible, Napkins, Umbrella, Office chair, Japanese bed spread

The house was later owned by Dr. Henry Martin. If you'd like to know more about Dr. Martin and his wife Mary, check out our Talking Tombstones project (link in comments).

Harper's Rothwell Opera House on North Central opened with a grand ball on June 25, 1884. It was lit with gas lamps, had...
02/06/2026

Harper's Rothwell Opera House on North Central opened with a grand ball on June 25, 1884. It was lit with gas lamps, had a large orchestra pit, and seated 800 people. At the time, the stage was the largest in Kansas.

The opera house was outfitted with stationary opera seats, elaborate private boxes, a pair of circular stairs that led to the balcony, and featured ten full sets of scenery painted by one of the best scenic art firms in the country. The ceiling featured a giant chandelier and a glass dome, which, when all the lamps were lit, could be seen for miles.

The building was severely damaged by a tornado in 1892. It was rebuilt, but never returned to its former glory.

Early photo of downtown Harper. Caption reads: "Street scene of Harper taken in 1880, of the north side of Main Street l...
01/31/2026

Early photo of downtown Harper. Caption reads: "Street scene of Harper taken in 1880, of the north side of Main Street looking east from Central Avenue. Note that most of the buildings were wooden and the streets were unpaved with wooden sidewalks. Photo donated to Harper City Historical Museum by Stella and Lem Laird."

01/25/2026

Harper City Historical Museum

Open weekly Thursday 2-4

By appointment call 620-243-2775 or 620-243-2741

Shirley Zirkle and Terri Reynolds on Bells December 7, 2025
12/11/2025

Shirley Zirkle and Terri Reynolds on Bells December 7, 2025

Pastor Bruce Wilson December 7, 2025
12/11/2025

Pastor Bruce Wilson December 7, 2025

Address

804 E 12th Street , P. O. Box 322
Harper, KS
67058

Opening Hours

2pm - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Harper Museum and Runnymede Church posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category