Humanities Kansas

06/01/2026

Join the Movement of Ideas this week!

💡 Through July 5 at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum in Bonner Springs – See the “Americans” Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition and the local exhibition "American Indian Identity in Wyandotte County.”

💡 Through July 2026 – See “Americans” partner sites exhibitions: “Martin and Osa Johnson: Origins” exhibition at the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, the “Serpent Intaglio” exhibition at the Coronado Quivira Museum in Lyons, and “Beautifully Integrated” at the Olathe Downtown Library, presented by Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm.

💡 You can also see "Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” at these locations:
Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, Lawrence
Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum,Abilene
El Dorado Senior Center
Kansas Historical Society, Topeka
Lyon County History Center in Emporia
Nicodemus National Historic Site
Phillips County Historical Society
Scott County Library in Scott City

💡June 4 at Paola Free Library – “Digging Up History, Kid Edition” genealogy class. Supported by an HK Culture Preservation Grant.

💡June 6 in Downtown Dodge City – Derrick Doty leads “Let’s Dance! Traditional Dance in Kansas.”

💡June 7 at Jetmore Public Library – Mary Kohn presents “You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto: Evolution of Language In Kansas."

💡Book your Kansas Folklife: Celebrating Kansas Traditions presentation. https://tinyurl.com/HKKansasFolklife

Contact community hosts directly with questions about the events.

Explore more events on HK’s Calendar of Events: https://www.humanitieskansas.org/events

05/28/2026

Kansas Nonprofits! “Accordion” to Humanities Kansas, your summer plans are not complete with a Kansas Folklife presentation. How about adding a little music to your summer events with "Songs from the Coal Camps: The Accordion Story of the Little Balkans,” presented by Phyllis Bitner.

The rich history of southeast Kansas’s Little Balkans region cannot be told without its soundtrack. For thousands of immigrant families who arrived from Southeastern Europe, music was a comfort and cultural anchor. The accordion and button box—often treasured possessions brought from the Old Country—became the heart of daily life, community gatherings, and family celebrations. Join Phyllis as she explores the traditions, instruments, and spirit of Little Balkans music.

This presentation must be scheduled by August 31, 2026. Find out how to bring this presentation and others to your community: https://tinyurl.com/HKKansasFolklife

05/27/2026

It’s your last chance to see the Smithsonian in Kansas! Just in time for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the summer of world soccer in Kansas City, the “Americans" Smithsonian traveling exhibition is coming to the Wyandotte County Historical Museum in Bonner Springs. “Americans" will be on display May 30-July 5, 2026, and will be the final stop for the national exhibition in Kansas.

“Americans” is based on the exhibition of the same name currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). Curated by Paul Chaat Smith (Comanche) and Cécile R. Ganteaume, the exhibit uses historical photographs and objects representative of those in the Smithsonian's collection to tell their stories. Also on display is "American Indian Identity in Wyandotte County," the museum’s companion exhibition to “Americans.” The exhibition highlights Wyandotte County’s rich Native American history and the role it has played in the county’s development.

Plan your visit: https://www.humanitieskansas.org/events

“Americans” is part of Museum on Main Street (MoMS), a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Humanities Kansas to bring high-quality traveling exhibitions, educational resources, and programming primarily to small and rural communities in partnership with their local museums, historical societies, and other cultural venues. The exhibitions are designed to engage communities and spark conversations.

Support for “Americans” is provided by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation and the Sunflower Foundation.

05/26/2026

Join the Movement of Ideas this week! May is coming to an exciting end with the last stop for the “Americans" Smithsonian exhibition in Bonner Springs, Kansas Folklife events, and more.

💡 Opening May 30 at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum in Bonner Springs – See the “Americans” Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition and the local exhibition "American Indian Identity in Wyandotte County.”

💡 Through July 2026 – See “Americans” partner sites exhibitions: “Martin and Osa Johnson: Origins” exhibition at the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, the “Serpent Intaglio” exhibition at the Coronado Quivira Museum in Lyons, and “Beautifully Integrated” at the Olathe Downtown Library, presented by Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm.

💡 You can also see "Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” at these locations:
Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, Lawrence
Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene
El Dorado Senior Center
Kansas Historical Society, Topeka
Lyon County History Center in Emporia
Nicodemus National Historic Site
Phillips County Historical Society
Scott County Library in Scott City

💡May 26 at Arrow Cocktail Lounge in Manhattan – Ayako Mizumura presents “The Way of Tea: Harmony and Home in Kansas.” Sponsored by the Flint Hills Discovery Center.

💡May 26 at Tonganoxie Community Historical Society – Lem Sheppard talks about “African American Musicians in Kansas 1860-1920.”

💡May 28 on KPTS, PBS Kansas in Wichita – Watch the “Oasis on the Plains” documentary at 7:00pm.

💡May 30 at Salina Holiday Inn – Chris Glasgow discusses “Matilda Joslyn Gage: Lost Suffragist and Oz.” Sponsored by Business and Professional Women of Kansas.

💡May 30 at Wyandotte County Historical Museum in Bonner Springs – “Walking with Nature Family Day” “Americans” opening event.

💡Book your Kansas Folklife: Celebrating Kansas Traditions presentation. https://tinyurl.com/HKKansasFolklife

Contact community hosts directly with questions about the events.

Explore more events on HK’s Calendar of Events: https://www.humanitieskansas.org/events

05/18/2026

Join the Movement of Ideas this week!

💡 Closes May 24 at the Seward County Community College in Liberal – See the “Americans” Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition before it leaves Liberal!

💡 Through July 2026 – See “Americans” partner sites exhibitions: “Martin and Osa Johnson: Origins” exhibition at the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, the “Serpent Intaglio” exhibition at the Coronado Quivira Museum in Lyons, and “Beautifully Integrated” at the Olathe Downtown Library, presented by Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm.

💡 “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” opens on May 23 at these locations:
El Dorado Senior Center
Lyon County History Center in Emporia
Phillips County Historical Society
Scott County Library in Scott City

💡 You can also see "Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” at these locations:
Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, Lawrence
Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene
Kansas Historical Society, Topeka
Nicodemus National Historic Site

💡May 19 at Wamego Public Library – Theressa Rica presents “Food for the Journey: Kansas Stories.”

💡May 22 at Park City Senior Center – Ron Wilson talks about “Ridin’ Trails and Writin’ Rhymes: Cowboy Culture of Kansas.”

💡May 23 at Park City Senior Center – Derrick Doty leads “Let’s Dance! Traditional Dance in Kansas.”

💡Summer is just around the corner! Book your Kansas Folklife: Celebrating Kansas Traditions presentation now. https://tinyurl.com/HKKansasFolklife

Contact community hosts directly with questions about the events.

Explore more events on HK’s Calendar of Events: https://www.humanitieskansas.org/events

05/12/2026

What do the humanities and soccer have in common? A LOT! As the Kansas City region prepares for soccer on the world stage in June and July, Tim Bascom, a former HK TALK discussion leader, writes in the Kansas Reflector about two books that trace the beautiful game’s historical roots and ties to social and political movements.

As we anticipate the 2026 World Cup and the six games Kansas City will host, let me recommend a pair of books.

05/11/2026

Join the Movement of Ideas this week!

💡 On exhibition through May 24 at the Seward County Community College in Liberal – See the “Americans” Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition.

💡 Through July 2026 – See “Americans” partner sites exhibitions: “Martin and Osa Johnson: Origins” exhibition at the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, the “Serpent Intaglio” exhibition at the Coronado Quivira Museum in Lyons, and “Beautifully Integrated” at the Olathe Downtown Library, presented by Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm.

💡It’s your last week to see “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” at these locations:
Andover Public Library
Harper Public Library
Pony Express Barn & Museum, Marysville
Tonganoxie Community Historical Museum

💡 You can also see "Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” at these locations:
Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, Lawrence
Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene
Kansas Historical Society, Topeka
Nicodemus National Historic Site

💡May 12 at Troy Public Library – Katie Keckeisen presents “Life in Kansas During the Dust Bowl.”

💡May 14 at LaCygne Library – Erika Nelson discusses “What a Ride! Rural Community-Owned Carnivals.”

💡May 15 at Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library in Kansas City – Megan Kaminski leads “Listening to Place: Nature and Poetry Walks.”

💡May 17 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence – Annette Billings presents “Let Me Tell You a Story.”

💡May 17 at Rice County Historical Society in Lyons – Ron Wilson talks about “Ridin’ Trails and Writin’ Rhymes: Cowboy Culture of Kansas.”

Contact community hosts directly with questions about the events.

Explore more events on HK’s Calendar of Events: https://www.humanitieskansas.org/events

05/08/2026

From April 2nd to July 13th, Nicodemus National Historic Site is hosting “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy,” a traveling exhibition from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

This exhibit is a part of Nicodemus National Historic Site’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The Kansas tour of “Declaration 1776” is presented by Humanities Kansas.
Nicodemus reminds us that the revolutionary spirit of the Declaration of Independence lives on. In 1877, the Nicodemus Town Company formed to allow Black Americans to cultivate the foundational values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in their own all-Black town.

Come on down to Nicodemus between now and July 13th to see this fabulous exhibit inside the Township Hall. You won’t want to miss it!
Nicodemus NHS is open Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/nico/index.htm or by contacting a park ranger at (785) 839-4233.

05/05/2026

341 Events

138 Communities

222 Partners

The Humanities Kansas 2025 Annual Report shows that the humanities are thriving in Kansas — new exhibitions, compelling history presentations, and other community-centered events brought thousands of Kansans together in community after community to engage in
thoughtful conversations. It was the Movement of Ideas in motion!
https://tinyurl.com/HKImpact