Miami County Kansas Historical Museum

02/06/2026

When Victory Was the Only Choice...

During the Civil War, federal law initially barred Black men from military service, but the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 opened the door. In June our speaker shared the initial story of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry, the very first Black unit to participate in Civil War combat at the battle of Island Mound, near Butler, MO. Outnumbered two to one, their ferocious bravery and fighting skill led them to victory.

This victory led the Union to form many more black units and, for the 1st Kansas, it meant many more battles to fight, as the Union sorely needed their proven valor and skill throughout the war.

Join us as we follow the 1st Kansas' fighting journey all the way to Indian Territory and Arkansas and back again to Kansas. And, as a nod to the future Paola resident we recognized in June, our cemetery sextant Bill Gordon and who is pictured in our cemetery exhibit, we will highlight his specific service as a member of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry.

No Admission Charge
Reservations Not Needed
Donations Appreciated

02/04/2026

The Day the Ursuline Sisters Came to Town...

In 1894, two Ursuline Sisters from Louisville, Kentucky came to Paola to investigate the possibility of establishing an academy and convent. During the era of cultural assimilation, the sisters were originally interested in educating the Native Americans of eastern Kansas to the ways of white culture and civilization. By 1894, however, the majority of the emigrant tribes had moved to Oklahoma as a result of a second forced removal act. The academy then had to refocus their mission to mainstream education.

Several towns offered locations for the school to the sisters, but Paola businessmen subscribed the money for the purchase of a tract of land on which to build a school – five acres on East Wea Street. According to the files of the Western Spirit for July 7, 1895, the land was purchased for $500 and donated to the sisters.

J.N.D. Clark of Kansas City, Kansas was commissioned to design the building and John Fordyce of Paola was selected as the general contractor. The cornerstone was laid on September 1, 1895 in the presence of 1000 people. This community interest and participation in the Academy was an important facet of the Ursuline history.

02/01/2026

We honor Local and National Black History Month

Knowing the past opens the door to the future!

We must remember there is no more powerful force than a people steeped in their history. And there is no higher cause than honoring their struggle and ancestors by remembering.

Images

First photo is William "Bill" Gordon, grave digger for decades at the Paola Cemetery, Paola, Kansas

Other photos of miscellaneous well known figures in Black American history

02/01/2026

Ladies love hats and we love ladies having fun with our Museum's hat collection.

History of Hats

Hats evolved from practical head coverings for sun/cold protection (like Ötzi the Iceman's cap) in ancient times to powerful status symbols in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, marking social class, religion, or marital status (e.g., Jewish Judenhut, hennins, turbans). The 19th century saw the peak of hat-wearing, with top hats for elites and bowlers for the middle class, but a decline began in the 1960s due to cars, changing fashion, and cultural shifts, though they remain for specific occasions or cultural identity.

01/24/2026

Osawatomie, a Poet's Corner

May Williams Ward was a distinguished poet. Born in Missouri in1882, her family moved to her mother’s hometown of Osawatomie (Miami County) when she was seven.

After several future moves, the family eventually settled in Wellington (Sumner County). Ward published her first poem in 1921, and within four years she was nationally recognized for her talent. Her poems appeared in periodicals such as “Ladies Home Journal,” “Good Housekeeping” and “Kansas City Star.”

By 1926 Ward had published 300 poems in 35 magazines. That same year she became the editor of “The Harp,” a poetry magazine published in Larned (Pawnee County).

During her 50-year career, Ward published 2,000 poems and seven books. William Allen White referred to her as “the champion poet of Kansas.”

Source
Kansas Historical Society

01/23/2026

01/23/2026

Notice;

Osawatomie depot Museum WILL BE CLOSED TODAY AS WELL DUE TO FRIGID COLD 🥶 🥶

01/23/2026

Please pass the word we are closed today January 23, 2026

We will see you all next Wednesday!

Stay warm and safe ✅

01/22/2026

Trojan Pride Continues to Shine!

The 2026 OHS Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees are Announced

The Osawatomie High School Athletic Hall of Fame celebrated its second induction on January 16, 2026, honoring athletes and teams who left a lasting mark on Trojan history.

2026 Hall of Fame Class: • 1973 State Championship Football Team • Samuel “Mac” Steele • Edward “Eddie” West • Richard “Rick” Stephens • Derrick Shelby • Crystal Walker Ecton • Jennifer Snyder Cumpton

More biographies, event highlights, and the ceremony recording are available on the official Hall of Fame website, hosted by the Osawatomie History Museum: https://osawatomiemuseum.org/2026-hof/
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01/19/2026

Images from National Hat Day 🤠🥳 at the Museum. Hats never go out of style and are always fun!

01/16/2026

Please Join Us Tomorrow

Baseball’s Influence on Kansas

Baseball is deeply intertwined with American culture, often called "America's Pastime," reflecting national values like teamwork and perseverance, connecting generations through family tradition, and serving as a mirror for societal changes from racial integration to technological progress, influencing language, film, and music, and providing a nostalgic link to simpler times and rural roots.

Go back to the late 1800s and the birth of Walter Johnson and George Sweatt, Humboldt kids who played baseball at the highest level but in different leagues due to racism.

Learn about the sixteen-year-old signed by the Kansas City Athletics, who left the University of Kansas campus to play his first game at Municipal Stadium the next day

Read about pioneers in the game named Joyce, Katie and Alex, determined and talented women who are part of our national pastime.

Author Michael Travis shares his love for the game, rounding the bases from its beginnings in Wichita with League 42 to the Major Leagues.

No Admission Charge
Reservations Not Needed
Donations Appreciated
501 (C)(3) IRS designated