Lansing Historical Museum

10/22/2018

The Lansing Historical Museum and it's page are no longer staffed/monitored by the city of Lansing staff. Please search for the Lansing Historical Society and Museum for more information.

Is dedicated to preserving the history of
Delaware Township, the City of Lansing,
Kansas State Penitentiary, including promoting historical tours and sharing local connections.

04/26/2018

This Sunday...

The Lansing Historical Society will be hosting “Billy, A Kansas Boy”, a book written by William Henry Wenzel, performed by local actor Ken Church, April 29, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lansing Historical Museum, 115 East Kansas. Church will present oral interpretations from Wenzel’s memoir.
This will be the second occasion that Church has presented this program. The first time Bill Wenzel was present for the presentation. He passed away Feb. 3, 2018.
The book tells the story of Billy growing up in a typical small town in Kansas from 1927 and ending with a story that happened in 1949. Lansing was quite different than it is today. Residents had the feel of a true community with its’ downtown, hotels, restaurants and bustling train stations.
Wenzel's book will be on sale with all proceeds going to benefit the Lansing Historical Society.

01/22/2018

From our friends at the Lansing Historical Society...

Hope to see a few familiar faces at the Lansing Historical Museum as we celebrate Kansas Day! We will be recognizing the five Lansing elementary students who wrote winning essays on Kansas.

11/17/2017

From Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger, COLD BLOODED: THE CLUTTER FAMILY MURDERS presents a 360-degree view and re-examination of the brutal murders chronicled in…

11/09/2017

Through January 2018, the Lansing Historical Museum will be open every Friday from 1 - 5 p.m. and by appointment. Please call 913-727-5488 to make an appointment, or for more information. Please request an appointment at least 24 hours in advance of your visit.

11/08/2017

The Lansing Historical Museum will be closed on Wed., Nov. 8. Call 913-727-5488 with questions.

10/24/2017

The Lansing Historical Museum is currently observing temporary hours of operation: Wednesday - Friday, 12 - 3 p.m. Due to a staffing shortage, Fall 2017 programming is canceled. We will post updates later this year. Thank you in advance for your patience.

10/18/2017

The Lansing Historical Museum was thrilled to receive this beautiful black walnut trunk today, donated by the grandsons of Carl and Emma Mills who raised their family in Lansing on Kay Street. The trunk was hand-carved in 1934 by a prisoner at LCF. Carl Mills was a prison guard in the 1930's at LCF, and the inmate carved the trunk for Mr. Mills to give to his wife Emma. On the inside lid is engraved "Emma Mills 1934". On the bottom interior of the trunk is the inmate's name and number.

Pictured here are the grandsons of Carl and Emma Mills. Two of the grandsons traveled from Phoenix, Arizona, to deliver the trunk to the museum.

10/05/2017

From Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger, COLD BLOODED: THE CLUTTER FAMILY MURDERS presents a 360-degree view and re-examination of the brutal murders chronicled in…

09/30/2017

Schedule Update:
The museum will temporarily have limited hours. We will be open Wednesday-Friday, 12:00-3:00pm.

09/28/2017

Have you ever seen a glass plate negative? Plates were used before the advent of photographic film. Although susceptible to breakage, they are incredibly stable and outlast film negatives. A collection of glass plate negatives from 1902 was the basis for our "Faces of the Kansas State Penitentiary" exhibit.