06/02/2026
Partner Spotlight: The Cherryvale, Kansas Historical Museum
Find them at: 322 E Main St, Cherryvale, KS 67335
It was so good to see our friend at the May partner meeting! If you haven't visited them in a few years, they have a new location!
Step inside the Cherryvale Museum and discover a small Kansas town with an extraordinary story.
Cherryvale was platted by the railroad in 1871, and from the very beginning, its history was anything but ordinary. Just outside of town, was the location of a small cabin which was home to the Bender family murders, a dark chapter from the early 1870 that continues to fascinate historians and visitors alike. Inside the museum, the past comes vividly to life through a replica of the Bender house and carefully preserved artifacts that bring the era into sharp focus.
Cherryvale is the hometown of Frank Bellamy, credited with writing the Pledge of Allegiance for a student contest in 1892, and the birthplace of two legendary women of early Hollywood: Vivian Vance, best known as Ethel on I Love Lucy, and Louise Brooks, one of the most iconic and daring silent film stars of her time.
The museum also explores how the discovery of the Kansas Gas Belt transformed sleepy southeast Kansas towns into booming industrial centers, complete with brick and glass factories and massive smelters. Unique glassware and industrial artifacts highlight this pivotal period of growth and change.
Whether you’re drawn to true crime history, pop culture, local industry, or small-town stories with big impact, the Cherryvale Museum offers something unexpected around every corner.
