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We are eagerly preparing for our next exhibition, A Place to Call Home, and can't wait to share it with the public. This special exhibit, curated and designed by the Smoky Hill Museum in Salina, Kansas, explores the settlement of Kansas and the challenges early pioneers faced.
In the early days, settling in Kansas was fraught with difficulties and dangers. Imagine arriving in a vast wilderness with few resources, braving unpredictable weather, and struggling to establish a home on the prairie. It was not a task for the timid or faint of heart. Yet, thousands journeyed to Kansas to stake their claim and build new lives.
Whether traveling on foot, horseback, wagon, train, or boat—they came. Whether bringing a wagon full of supplies or arriving with empty pockets—they came. Alone or with their families—they came. The great migration into Kansas began in the mid-1850s, surged after the Civil War, and continued through the late 1800s.
In this exhibit, visitors will hear firsthand accounts from settlers who risked everything. Through diary entries, they will experience the difficult decisions immigrants made, the hardships they endured, and the hopes that brought them to Kansas.
A Place to Call Home also offers two engaging, hands-on activities. Visitors can test their pioneer survival skills with Who Will Prevail—You or the Trail?, an interactive experience that challenges their knowledge of life on the prairie in the 1800s. Another activity, The Immigrant in You, invites visitors to explore their family's immigration history and share their ancestral journey to Kansas.
A Place to Call Home opens on the afternoon of Friday, February 28, and will remain on view through Tuesday, June 17.
In addition to the exhibit, we are excited to host Staci Hartman’s Oil Painting Workshop on March 14 & 15 in the Community Room. This immersive, two-day workshop invites participants to dive into the vibrant world of oil painting. Staci will guide painters through essential techniques, color theory, and composition design. Participants will also create a versatile palette while learning the importance of value changes in landscape painting.
The workshop is suitable for all skill levels, though some painting experience is recommended. The cost is $120, with discounts available for eligible Museum Members. To sign up and pay online, visit www.hansenmuseum.org or call 785-689-4846 to reserve your spot.
The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday and holidays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. We are closed on New Year’s Day. The Museum is fully handicap accessible, and admission is always free, thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
For more information, please contact us at 785-689-4846. We look forward to welcoming you to the Museum!
