Kansas is home to over 400 historical societies, preservation organizations, and heritage groups. From major institutions in Topeka to small-town societies preserving local heritage, these organizations maintain vital connections to Kansas's rich past.
Featured Historical Societies
Kansas Historical Society
Location: Topeka, KS
Founded: 1875
Official state historical society operating Kansas Museum of History, state archives, and historic sites. Preserves Kansas history from Native American heritage through frontier settlement, Civil War, and agricultural development.
Website: kshs.org
Boot Hill Museum
Location: Dodge City, KS
Founded: 1947
Preserves Dodge City's Wild West heritage as the "Queen of the Cowtowns." Features reconstructed Front Street, Boot Hill Cemetery, and exhibits on cattle drives, gunfighters, and frontier law enforcement.
Website: boothill.org
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
Location: Wichita, KS
Founded: 1939
Chronicles Wichita's growth from frontier trading post to aviation capital. Features exhibits on aircraft manufacturing, Native American history, and pioneer settlement of south-central Kansas.
Website: wichitahistory.org
Kansas Historical Society
Location: Topeka, KS
Founded: 1875
State historical organization operating museum, archives, and historic sites. Extensive collections on westward expansion, Native tribes, Civil War in Kansas, and wheat farming heritage.
Website: kshs.org
Boot Hill Museum
Location: Dodge City, KS
Founded: 1947
Recreates Front Street during Dodge City's cattle drive heyday 1872-1885. Living history interpreters portray lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson in Old West's wildest town.
Website: boothill.org
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Location: Topeka, KS
Founded: 1992
Commemorates Monroe Elementary School and landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision ending school segregation. Interprets civil rights struggle and path to educational equality.
Website: nps.gov/brvb
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
Location: Wichita, KS
Founded: 1939
Documents Air Capital's history from Wichita people through aviation manufacturing. Housed in former city hall with exhibits on Wild West era, railroad development, and aircraft industry.
Fort Larned National Historic Site
Location: Larned, KS
Founded: 1964
Best-preserved fort on Santa Fe Trail protecting travelers and mail routes 1859-1878. Nine original sandstone buildings interpret frontier military life and Plains Indian conflicts.
Website: nps.gov/fols
Submit a Society
Know of other Kansas historical societies? Help us expand this directory by submitting organizations you're familiar with.
Submit a Society →Additional Kansas History Resources
- Kansas Historical Society - Statewide history organization
- Kansas State Historic Preservation Office - State historic preservation programs
- Kansas State Archives - State archives in Topeka