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Finney
County Historical Museum
"Preserving
the Past to Enlighten the Future"
The Finney
County Museum is located at 403 S. 4th Street, at the entrance
to Lee Richardson Zoo. The museum features permanent and revolving
exhibits, community programs, educational tours and extensive
research facilities. The permanent displays include: Spirit
of the Plains, C.J. "Buffalo" Jones: Last of the Plainsmen, Take
Stock in Finney County, and the Sugar Beet Factory. The
museum grounds feature the Pleasant Valley One-Room Schoolhouse c.
1890 and the Fulton House, the 1884 home of
William D. and Luticia Fulton, plus charming flower and herb
gardens. These buildings are available for scheduled tours.
Located off
the exhibit hall, a unique gift shop is filled with Kansas memorabilia,
educational gifts, old fashioned toys, Victorian greeting cards,
history books, and a wide range of items representing the diversity
of the region.
The museum
offers a rewarding and enjoyable experience for all ages! A visit
provides a look into the spirit, past and present, of Southwest
Kansas.
Contact
Information: Finney County Museum, 403 S. 4th Street,
Box 796, Garden City, Kansas 67846, Phone (620)272-3664, e-mail
fico.historical@gcnet.com.
Winter
Hours: 1:00pm-5:00pm Daily, Summer Hours: 10:00am-5:00pm
Daily
Saturday
and Sunday: 1:00
- 5:00pm
Admission
is free, suggested donations for adults of $2.00 and
for children of $1.00 is appreciated, however, to help us improve
and maintain
the museum and exhibits.
Membership
Benefits included in becoming a member of the Historical Society are
quarterly issues of the Society's newsletter; The Sequoyan, a 20% discount
in The Museum
Store,
invitations to museum receptions, the Annual Meeting in the Spring and a
Fall picnic in October. Advance notice of special events will be given.
Education
As the Museum and Society grow so do the educational programs. Through
tours, History Day, school assigned research, outreach lectures
and demonstrations, the Society provides an important aspect of
education and history to the surrounding schools.
Collections
The museum collection of artifacts and research material is extensive.
The Society is interested in photographs, research material
and
certain artifacts relating to Southwest Kansas. By donating to
our collection you help to preserve history.
Publications
Major publications include Volumes I and II of Finney County History,
reprint of Conquest of Southwest Kansas, and reprint of the
1886-87
Finney County Directory. The Finney County Historical Society publications
are available for sale in The Museum Store or by mail
order.
The following
titles are available:
- Finney County
Directory 1886-87
- Finney County
History Volume II
- Conquest
of Southwest Kansas
- Constant
Frontier: The Continuing History of Finney County Kansas
- Those Who
Served: Finney County Veterans
- Buffalo
Jones: Citizen of the Kansas Frontier
The Museum
Store
The Museum Store is a favorite stop for visitors of all ages. Filled with unique
gifts, Kansas souvenirs, old fashion toys paper dolls, Victorian reproduction
greeting cards and a generous selection of southwest Kansas history books, it
is a must see. Special orders available.
www.fchsmuseumstore.com
To place your
order from The Museum Store please call (620)272-3664 of fax
in your order to (620)272-3662, or email at fico.historical@gcnet.com.
Credit cards accepted.
Research
Library
The Leola Howard Blanchard Library in the museum is an expanding
and excellent research center.
This library offers researchers primary sources
for
history of
Finney County and assistance with family genealogy. It includes
a large photograph collection, archives, and manuscript material,
original newspapers, maps and microfilm of early day publications.
This library offers researchers primary sources for history
of Finney County including private letters of "Buffalo" Jones,
Senator Clifford Hope, Sr., and the Finnup Family. It includes
a large photograph collection, archives and manuscript material,
original newspapers, maps and microfilm of early day publications.
Exhibits
The main exhibit
hall is also used by the Society to display revolving exhibits.
Topics include close-ups of events, people and places of Finney
County.
The
temporary gallery features special exhibits that are changed
at least twice a year. Unique Exhibits concentrate on the history
of the area. Changing exhibits address topics of local and
national interest. Popular
displays have covered such topics as quilting, World War II, cultural
diversity, sports and the "Dust Bowl", German-Russians in Finney
County, the Fleagle Gang, and the Waldorf of the prairies:
The Windsor
Hotel 1887-1977
The Museum
Exhibit Hall features three permanent exhibits:
- Spirit
of the Plains:Portrays the history of the Southwest Kansas
Plains.
- Take
Stock in Finney County:Showcases the development of
the cattle industry in the area including the beef packing
industry and irrigation.
- C. J.
"Buffalo" Jones, Last of the Plainsmen:The newest permanent exhibit chronicles
the life of Garden City's most flamboyant founding father.
Volunteers
The Finney County Historical Society is able to offer so much because
of its large group of volunteers. Volunteers are involved in all
areas, from research and care of artifacts to education, tours and
community workshops. |
