See Carrie Nation's hatchet, 1880 railroad locomotive for free at the Kansas Museum of History
Carrie Nation's hatchet, George Armstrong Custer's riding boots and Dwight D. Eisenhower's World War II field jacket are on display at the Kansas Museum of History.
So are an airplane built in 1914 by Topekan Albin Longren and a steam locomotive, named after Topeka co-founder Cyrus K. Holliday, which was constructed in 1880 for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
And for the next two weeks, visitors can see them all free of charge.
The Kansas Museum of History at 6425 S.W. 6th Ave. is offering free admission to the public until it closes to undergo renovations, that museum said in an announcement reported last month by The Capital-Journal.
"Please join us in saying 'Goodbye to the Past,'" it said earlier this month on Facebook.
The historical museum on Wednesday began offering free admission to its museum, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays until Sept. 3.
The historical society's Museum Store and Discovery Place have closed for renovations, while construction is underway near the entrance to the building where they are located, the historical society's Facebook site said.
The state archives research room and the historical society's nature trail will remain open during renovations.
The museum normally charges admission fees of $10 for adults; $9 for senior citizens, active military and college students with identification; and $5 for youths ages 2 through 17.
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How is the renovation being financed?
The historical society and its sister agency and fund-raising arm, the Kansas Historical Foundation, are finishing up a capital campaign to raise more than $6 million to finance a project to enable the museum of history to tell the state's stories in a manner that resonates in the 21st century.
Former Kansas Sens. Nancy Kassebaum Baker and the late Bob Dole co-chaired the fundraising campaign, which is 97% complete, according to the historical society website.
The museum is being revamped after 35 years in operation to honor those who came before us; to educate and inspire; to tell Kansas history that resonates now; and to learn from the past to navigate the future, says the website for the capital campaign.
How will the museum change?
That website says the revamped museum will be different from its former version in that it will focus on:
• Emphasizing cause and effect, rather than chronology.
• Providing opportunities for empathy and amusement.
• Analyzing documents and artifacts as a vehicle for learning.
• Using the past to explore solutions to problems in the modern world.
• Engaging current technologies to enhance and extend the learning experience.
• Encouraging civic involvement by focusing on what connects us.
• Enhancing communication techniques to connect to different learning styles.
• And placing visitors at the center of Kansas history with opportunities to share opinions and tell stories.
Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka's Kansas Museum of History to close Sept. 4 to be renovated
