Southeast Kansas Heritage Tour

Southeast Kansas has broad, sweeping plains interrupted by the bluestem-covered Flint Hills. Museums address the region's mining and oil industries as well as local county history. You'll also find a number of Civil War sites, including the state's largest Civil War battlefield.

Towns are listed in alphabetical order, followed by information on historical attractions. Use our button bar below to go to a town on your itinerary.

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For road maps to each of these sites, we suggest you use Yahoo! Maps.

B

Burlington

Coffey County Historical Museum

Featuring exhibits on county history.

Location: 1101 Neosho Street
Telephone: 316-364-2653

C

Chanute

Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum

Learn about the life and times of early cinematographers Martin and Osa Johnson. African tribal artifacts also are displayed.

Location: 111 N. Lincoln Avenue
Telephone: 316-431-2730

Coffeyville

Dalton Defenders Museum

Exhibits on the Dalton gang robbery and the gang's break-up in 1892, plus early Coffeyville history and Wendell Willkie and Walter Johnson mementos.

Location: 113 E. Eighth Street
Telephone: 316-251-5944

Columbus

Columbus Museum

Variety of displays on local history, featuring Merle Evans (Ringling Bros. Circus band leader for over 50 years).

Location: 100 S. Tennessee Avenue
Telephone: 316-429-2160

Cottonwood Falls

Chase County Historical Museum

History of the county and the surrounding Flint Hills, plus Knute Rockne artifacts and home of Prairyerth .

Location: 301 Broadway
Telephone: 316-273-8500

Roniger Memorial Museum

The collection of brothers Frank and George Roniger, focusing on Native American artifacts,(many found locally).

Location: 315 Union
Telephone: 316-273-8447

Council Grove

Kaw Mission State Historic Site

This beautiful stone building was an early mission for children of the Kaw tribe. Located on the Santa Fe Trail, the surrounding town of Council Grove was a favorite stopping place for travelers.

Location: 500 N. Mission Street
Telephone: 620-767-5410

E

Emporia

Lyon County Historical Society and Museum

General county history in a historic building near downtown Emporia; also large research facility with county sources.

Location: 118 E. Sixth Avenue
Telephone: 316-342-0933

William Allen White House State Historic Site

The showplace home of William Allen White, nationally known newspaperman and author

Location: 927 North Exchange Street
Telephone: 620-342-1803

Eureka

Greenwood County Historical Society

Extensive research facility with exhibits on ranching, war, and general county history.

Location: 120 W. Fourth Street
Telephone: 316-583-6682

F

Fort Scott

Fort Scott National Historic Site

One of the nation's premier restored and reconstructed frontier forts, dating from 1842. Includes 20 historic buildings, a parade ground, and five acres of tallgrass prairie.

Location: Old Fort Boulevard
Telephone: 316-223-0310

Fredonia

Wilson County Historical Society Museum

Exhibits on county history--including the local glass industry--in the old county jail building.

Location: 420 N. Seventh Street
Telephone: 316-378-3965

G

Galena

Galena Mining and Historical Museum

Focuses on the extensive local mining industry, especially lead mining operations and smelting. Also, art collection of mining scenes.

Location: 319 W. Seventh Street
Telephone: 316-783-2192

Garnett

Anderson County Historical Museum

Features a country store, school room, and other exhibits on local history.

Location: Sixth & Maple
Telephone: 785-448-5962

Goessel

Mennonite Heritage Museum

Historic village museum telling the story of the German-Russian Mennonites and their involvement in Kansas agriculture.

Location: 200 N. Poplar
Telephone: 316-367-8200

H

Hillsboro

Pioneer Adobe House Museum

Seven-room adobe house with straw-burning oven and attached barn, dating from 1876. Complex also includes Kruetziger Country School, Friesen Dutch Mill, and visitor center.

Location: 501 S. Ash
Telephone: 316-947-3775

N

Neodesha

Norman No. 1 Oil Well Museum

Oil industry artifacts displayed at the site of an early commercial oil well.

Location: 106 S. First Street
Telephone: 316-325-5316

O

Osawatomie

John Brown Museum State Historic Site

Log cabin built by Reverend Samuel Adair and wife Florella (John Brown's half-sister), located at the site of the Battle of Osawatomie. Encased in a stone building, the cabin offers displays on John Brown and the Adair family.

Location: John Brown Park at 10th and Main
Telephone: 913-755-4384

Osawatomie Museum

Local history displays on pre-Civil War border warfare, rural farm history, Missouri Pacific Railroad, and the Osawatomie State Hospital.

Location: 628 Main Street
Telephone: 913-755-4452

P

Pleasanton

Linn County Historical Society

Genealogical library, county history, and an old county store display.

Location: 307 East Park, Dunlap Park, PO 137, Pleasanton KS 66075
Telephone: 913-352-8739

Trading Post Museum

Displays on the "Bleeding Kansas" era and the Civil War battle of Mine Creek, plus local history.

Location: US Highway 69; turn at mile marker 96
Telephone 785-352-6441

Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to confirm hours, admission, and holiday schedules. To request that your museum be added to this listing, contact our webmaster.