Helping preserve the rich history of Douglas County, Kansas
The Watkins Community Museum of History, created by the Douglas County Historical Society, explains local history through its exhibits, lectures, tours, and other events. Two of the more interesting exhibits tell the stories of Langston Hughes, an African American poet who grew up in Lawrence early in the twentieth century and became nationally distinguished, and James Naismith, a Canadian by birth who invented the game of basketball and was KU's first basketball coach (1898–1907).
The museum building was commissioned by Lawrence financier J.B. Watkins to house the Land Mortgage Company & Watkins National Bank, and constructed between 1885 and 1888. After renovation and restoration to the bank's original beauty, the Watkins Museum opened at this location in 1975.
The Douglas County Historical Society is responsible for the operation, preservation, and development of collections in the Watkins Community Museum of History.
| Museum and Book Shop Hours |
Winter Hours
December–March
Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday, and Holidays
Open for Final Fridays,
last Friday of each month,
until 8 p.m.
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Regular Hours
April–November
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday, and Holidays
Open for Final Fridays,
last Friday of each month,
until 8 p.m.
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Winter Hours
December–March, regular open hours at the Watkins Museum will be Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Thursday evening hours will resume in April. The museum will be open until 8 p.m. every Final Friday and for special events throughout the year.
Historic Homes DIY
This spring, the Watkins will present a series of programs developed to inform and inspire owners of historic homes. Local experts in historic renovation will provide insights on the unique challenges of maintaining and renovating a historic building. Their tips may inspire you to tackle your own home improvement projects—whether your home is historic or not. Presented in collaboration with the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, the series is free to members of the LPA and DCHS. There will be a modest fee for non-members. Watch for more information in the coming months.
DCHS Donors to Receive Tax Credit
The Douglas County Historical Society was allocated $20,000 in Kansas state tax credits for fiscal year July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012 through the Partnership Historic Sites Program. The current allocation provides an incentive, and a challenge, to raise $40,000. Donors to the DCHS will receive a tax credit equal to 50% of their donation. The minimum donation is $1,000 ($500 tax credit). Donations made before December 31 receive a credit for the 2011 tax year.
Read More Here » |
| Exhibitions Now on View |
Living Memories: Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Second Floor
It Happened on Mass Street:
150 Years in Lawrence
Third Floor
Read More Here »
Stand Up, Sit In: Challenging
Authority in 1960s Lawrence
Second Floor
Watkins: The Couple, the Building, the Legacy
First Floor Lobby
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| Coming Events |
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Speakeasy Night with the Watkins at The Eldridge
Friday, January 20, 8–11 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 at the door
Relive the days of Prohibition and the ways people avoided it to have a good time (but you won’t be breaking the law). The event features music of the period and a cash bar, with a signature 1920s drink available. Prohibition-era posters from the Watkins Museum will be on display. A limited Eldridge Menu will be available. 1920s dress is encouraged. A portion of the proceeds from the event will help support programming at the Watkins Museum.
To purchase tickets in advance with a credit card, call 785-749-1005 at The Eldridge and ask for Lindsay, Diana or Matt. They will give you the password you will need at the door—and it’s NOT "so’s your old man…"
Final Friday
January 27, 6–8 p.m.
Photographer Bob Buchanan will show work featuring scenes from his travel and local landscapes. Programming and hands-on activities will celebrate the 151st anniversary of community philanthropist and KU benefactor Elizabeth Watkins’ birthday.
Final Friday
February 24, 6–8 p.m.
Celebrate the opening of the exhibition,Knowledge Grows Student Experiences in the Smart Choices Garden.
Family-friendly activities will mark the opening of this exhibition developed in partnership with Liberty Memorial Central Middle School. Student will share their experiences working in the school’s recently expanded Smart Choices Garden. Their photographs and recollections are featured in this exhibition exploring agriculture as education.
Final Friday
March 30, 6–8 p.m.
Celebrate the opening of the exhibitionMore than a Game:Basketball and Community Spirit.
March Madness overtakes the Watkins with programming celebrating basketball. Featuring photographs and artifacts illustrating James Naismith’s and Forrest "Phog" Allen’s roles in shaping the game we know today, this exhibition celebrates basketball as a source of community pride and a force for social change in Lawrence.
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Community Room |
Community Room is available for your receptions, birthday party or reunion. Call 1-785-841-4109 for more information.
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