Every Wednesday in June and July, bring the kids to the Watkins for an hour of free games and activities. Each week's events will be inspired by a different color of the rainbow. Attend all nine Summer Games sessions to be entered in a drawing for a $15 coupon at Sylas & Maddy's Old-Fashioned Ice Cream!
Join us in-person at the Watkins for a special event: Gary Davis, longtime North Lawrence resident, will give a gallery talk about his memories of the North Lawrence Black community and the photo collection he recently donated to the Watkins. This will be followed at 7:30 by a presentation by Dr. Alyssa Cole of the […]
There are several recently opened exhibits here at the Watkins, including parts of our exciting new third floor gallery. Drop by during Final Friday to check us out and earn yourself a coupon for 15% off at Latchkey Deli!
Glenn Kappelman led an extraordinary life. A WWII veteran known for the images he captured using an illicit camera during the war, Kappelman later took a prominent role in Lawrence’s growth during the latter half of the 20th century. He helped achieve the Lawrence Fair Housing Ordinance of 1967, supported social services such as the Women's Transitional Care Facility […]
In recent decades, historians have uncovered compelling evidence that the natural world greatly influenced events during the American Civil War. Dr. Lisa Brady, author of War Upon the Land: Military Strategy and the Transformation of Southern Landscapes during the American Civil War, will tell us about Americans' attempts to master the environment and how the war […]
Step inside the famous, historic Miller House! As 38 years of outstanding stewardship of this Lawrence landmark by Dennis and Judy Dailey come to a close, now is the perfect time for us to gather and deepen our understanding of the Miller House during the Underground Railroad, Quantrill's Raid, and ever since. During this outdoor […]
Americans in the 19th century believed they were civilized and that war had to be conducted according to principals of restraint and honor. But the extreme violence and bloodshed of the Civil War--including raids, massacres, and prisoners used as human shields--prompted controversy between North and South over forms of retaliation and who deserved protection during […]
Step back in time to the thrilling, terrifying days of the Civil War. Local historian John Jewell will lead you on a downtown walking tour of sites and stories from William Quantrill's devastating raid on Lawrence in 1863, a defining event in the city's history. Tour goers get a free information packet full of maps, […]
Our annual memorial service for the victims of Quantrill's Raid will be followed by a new addition to our programming. Historian and photographer John Charlton and Will Haynes of the Watkins Museum will speak on the life of famous photographer Alexander Gardner, his 1867 trip to document the progress of the Kansas Pacific Railway, and Charlton's […]
The Watkins Museum offers an exciting new way to experience the history of early Kansas! In this unique bus tour, you'll explore sites in Lawrence that witnessed the stirring events of Bleeding Kansas and find out how the natural landscape influenced this history. This tour involves dismounting from the bus and walking around three different […]
Hey families and kids, join us at the Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum for fun activities about the natural world of Kansas! Featuring animal pelts and skulls to touch, the Stream Trailer teaching about waterways, Prairie Divination tarot card readings by Megan Kaminski, and more! There is no set fee; please pay what you can. All proceeds will benefit the […]