Pawnee Indian Museum - Wolves for the Blue Soldiers - the Pawnee Scouts

November 22, 2009
Place: 480 Pawnee Trail, Republic

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This presentation begins at 7 p.m. and will be led by Richard Gould, site administrator of Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site. The Pawnee Scouts fought for the U.S. government under the supervision of Major Frank North and his brother, Luther. More than 200 Pawnee warriors were enlisted to fight their age old enemies, the Lakotas, Cheyennes, and Arapahos. Learn about these remarkable warriors of the plains. Admission fee is $1 for the program.

State Holiday - Thanksgiving

November 26, 2009 - November 27, 2009

These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices in Topeka, and Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.

Pawnee Indian Museum - George Catlin, Frontier Visionary

December 2, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Place: 480 Pawnee Trail, Republic

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This month-long special exhibit features the work of George Catlin. Catlin painted more than 600 portraits of Indians from many plains tribes including the Pawnees. Catlin's paintings represent the most authentic visual record of that time. Paintings in this exhibit represent the Pawnee, Kansa, Otoe, and Blackfoot nations. A video describing George Catlin's remarkable life will be shown in the lobby throughout the month.

Kaw Mission - A Kaw Mission Christmas

December 3, 2009
Place: 500 North Mission, Council Grove

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This nostalgic Victorian Christmas celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Kaw Mission and features period decorations, carolers, live music, and refreshment.

Kansas Museum of History - Museum Store Holiday Open House

December 4, 2009 - December 6, 2009
Place: 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka

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Join us for a holiday open house Friday-Sunday, December 4-6, at the Kansas Museum of History Museum Store. Enjoy samples of Kansas food products and browse our new selection of holiday gifts and decor. Kansas artist Marijana Grisnik will sign prints 1-3 p.m. Saturday, and Ed Grisnik will perform Croatian music.

Fort Hays - Christmas Past

December 4, 2009 - December 5, 2009
Place: 1472 Hwy 183 Alt, Hays

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Discover a Victorian Christmas Past, 7 - 9 p.m. Friday - Saturday, December 4-5, 2009. This marks the 39th year for this popular holiday open house.

Buildings are lit with candles and kerosene lanterns and are filled. A multitude of homemade Christmas ornaments adorn several different styles of trees. A large tree reminiscent of the 1880s, will be set up in the guardhouse while a smaller table-top tree, typical of the mid 1800s, will be decorated in the east parlor of the officers’ quarters. Often, evergreen trees were not available and so a branch of a deciduous tree, such as the hackberry tree branch in the west officers’ quarters’ parlor, would be used.

In the officers’ quarters, visitors can sample homemade candy cane or chocolate chip cookies and children will receive a bag of goodies from Father Christmas. Visitors can join in singing Christmas Carols in the guardhouse while they enjoy a cup of steaming hot chocolate and then take in the display of model railroads by the Kansas Pacific Railroad Club.

Outside, visitors will be able to board a horse-drawn wagon for a leisurely trip around the grounds. The rides are limited to 25 people at a time and will stop at the officers’ home and the blockhouse. Behind the officers’ home two frontiersmen will be heating up some spiced cider over a campfire, to help warm up the wagon riders. Near the blockhouse, soldiers will be making hot fried apples over a campfire.

Visitors can munch on a bag of fresh popped popcorn in the blockhouse while they watch a short Christmas film. Visitor should gather in the visitor center prior to going to the historic buildings. Walkways will be lined with luminaries although visitors may wish to bring their own flashlights.

Pawnee Indian Museum - Holiday Open House

December 6, 2009
Place: Pawnee Indian Museum, 480 Pawnee Trail, Republic

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Join us 2-4 p.m. for our annual holiday open house. Enjoy refreshments and discover all the changes that have been occurring at the museum. Admission is free.

State Holiday - Christmas - Closed

December 25, 2009
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These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices in Topeka, and Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.

State Holiday - New Years Day - Closed

January 1, 2010
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These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices, in Topeka, and Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Kaw Mission in Council Grove, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.

Pawnee Indian Museum - Pawnee Artists, Voices from the Past and Present

January 2, 2010 - January 31, 2010
Place: 480 Pawnee Trail, Republic

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This month-long special exhibit features Pawnee paintings, pottery, and music recordings.

State Holiday - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Closed

January 18, 2010
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These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices in Topeka, and Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.

Kansas Museum of History - Cars: The Need for Speed

January 22, 2010 - November 28, 2010
Place: 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka

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Special Exhibit

This exhibit will explore the impact of the automobile on Kansas, especially as it has affected food and entertainment. Kansans have wholeheartedly embraced car culture; after all, we’re spread out over 52 million acres, and it’s difficult to live here without a car!

Pawnee Indian Museum - Kansas Day Commemoration

January 29, 2010
Place: Pawnee Indian Museum, 480 Pawnee Trail, Republic

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Join us as we commemorate the 149th anniversary of Kansas Statehood Friday, January 29 with the program The Indian Nations at the time of Kansas Statehood, 1861. Explore the many Indian nations that called Kansas home and how statehood challenged their ways of life. A large Kansas map showing the tribal areas will be on display and books on the tribes will be available for purchase.

Pawnee Indian Museum - Digging in the Past: Archeology at RP1

February 3, 2010 - February 28, 2010
Place: 480 Pawnee Trail, Republic

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This month-long special exhibit tells the story of recent activities at the site through posters, videos, and diagrams. Techniques used during the last few months include dendrochronology and archeomagnetic testing which help to pinpoint the actual dates of occupation. Discover new findings for an ancient site!

Memorial Day - Closed

May 31, 2010
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These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices, Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Kaw Mission in Council Grove, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.

Independence Day

July 4, 2010
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These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices in Topeka, and Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.

Independence Day Holiday

July 5, 2010
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The Kansas Historical Society offices will be closed for state holiday.

State Holiday - Labor Day

September 6, 2010
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These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices in Topeka, and Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.

State Holiday - Veterans Day

November 11, 2010
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These Kansas Historical Society sites will be closed for the state holiday: Kansas Museum of History, State Archives & Library, KSHS offices in Topeka, and Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Cottonwood Ranch near Studley, First Territorial Capitol in Fort Riley, Fort Hays in Hays, Goodnow House in Manhattan, Grinter Place in Kansas City, Hollenberg Pony Express Station near Hanover, Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission near Highland, John Brown Museum in Osawatomie, Marais des Cygnes Massacre near Pleasanton, Mine Creek Battlefield near Pleasanton, Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway near Kansas City, and William Allen White House in Emporia.