Andover Historical Museum

10/16/2026

We covered Sarah James on our Cemetery Tour last May during Heritagefest. We was a strong woman for her time, and overcame a lot of challenges in her life. She passed away shortly after her 90th birthday.

10/16/2026

There is a movement happening right here in our own community, to discover and preserve our local history. Tricia Lee is leading the way and yesterday she gave a talk on her journey and how she came to preserve the Story of Andover. You too can join Andovers biggest community project and leave your mark in our chapter of Andovers story. Click the link to watch:

Thank you, Tricia Lee!

A big thank you to Tricia Lee for joining us yesterday for our October Speaker Series and sharing her experience preserving and telling the stories of Butler County communities.

Through her work with the Towanda Area Historical Museum and the Andover Historical Museum, Tricia reminded us that local history is about so much more than dates, buildings, and artifacts. It’s about the people, relationships, experiences, and decisions that shape the places we call home.

Every community has stories worth saving, and we’re grateful for people like Tricia who dedicate their time to making sure those stories aren’t lost.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Commerce Bank for sponsoring our Speaker Series and helping us bring these important conversations to the community!

If you missed it, you can catch her talk here: https://www.youtube.com/live/WMD3b_gFljY?si=6nQX7yO3TRe4jgCb

10/15/2026

This story is full of truth!! And we have some bigger pieces of the story to unveil very soon!!

Andover Historical Museum Seeks Artifacts, Stories and Volunteers for New Exhibits...

10/15/2026

This vintage photograph shows the entrance to Andover High School during the 1926-27 school year, exactly 100 years ago! Pictured is Hazel Platt and her unnamed friend, standing in front a building that wasn't duplicated much in design after these years. Notice the decorative brickwork above the entrance, including the horizontal banding and raised details. This was a unique factor in the Andover landscape during these years. We find it interesting to see this scene captured from such a long time ago. The clothing, friendships, and surroundings of young people growing up in Andover, Kansas a century ago. Its all part of our .

10/14/2026

Andover United Methodist Church "Bless This Food" Cookbook was organized in 1984 by Sue Joachim's, Phyllis Seidl and Jean Seeger. With the help of fellow church members, they brought together a collection of recipes that preserved not only family favorites, but simple recipes for a crowd.

A longtime Andover resident, Sue Joachims and her husband, Don, were married in 1983 and spent 41 years building a life together, before his passing. Their shared creativity and entrepreneurial spirits them on numerous community-building adventures, including owning and operating Country Accents, a wood manufacturing business they ran together for 22 years. Upon retirement, their son took over the business, continuing the legacy they had built.

Throughout their years together, Sue and Don demonstrated unwavering leadership, a strong commitment to their community, and a genuine desire to help others. Their contributions touched countless lives and helped shape the community of Andover, Kansas as we know it today.

In retirement, they found joy in spending time with their grandchildren, loving them, sharing their wisdom, and investing in the next generation. We hope she is still sharing great recipes with her family, like this one for Nuway Burgers she published in the church's cookbook all those years ago.

Sue's story reminds us that history isn't just about buildings, dates or events. It's about the people who give their time, share their talents, build businesses, serve their neighbors, and create lasting memories for generations to come.

Along with the , we believe every recipe tells a story, and every person has a place in our hearts.

10/13/2026

MAKE PLANS FOR LUNCH OR DINNER AND JOIN US TO SUPPORT LOCAL! WHO CAN SAY TO TO CHIPS AND SALSA?!

Saving the Story of Andover!

10/13/2026

DON'G FORGET - THERE IS A COMMUNITY PROJECT HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN ANDOVER!

Our community has struggled for generations to properly house, preserve and document its history. It's our mission to be the generation that corrects that for Andover. And you are invited to join the mission! Come by this Saturday 11-3 and be part of the generation that cares to capture the !

10/12/2026

Came across this real estate listing in the Andover Journal newspaper printed the week go September 11 - 17, 1985. At the time, this building was only 3 years old and the owners were looking to lease it to a new business. Who can tell us what business it was built for, and what businesses it later was occupied by? This advertisement was a snapshot of a changing Andover, and a community where new commercial development was beginning to reflect the growth happening around it. The 1980's was a booming time in Andover, Kansas!

10/12/2026

HOW ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN ANDOVER'S BIGGEST COMMUNITY PROJECT? What we are lacking the most is community engagement.

Artifacts, stories of Andover, newspaper clippings or photographs? Maybe you have a collection of vintage items that would go great in the new Museum design showcasing our early settlers or the story of one of the Andover tornados. Maybe you are really good at packing boxes. Lets Talk!

You can also donate funding directly to Andover Historical Museum:
https://www.venmo.com/u/AndoverHistoricalMuseum

Here is our working list of new exhibits being planned, which are all set as book titles:
- STORY OF ANDOVER: large book ends with titles that match exhibits
- BLOWN AWAY: WEATHER STORIES THAT SHAPED ANDOVER
- AN EARLY KANSAS SETTLEMENT 1861
- BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HISTORY - Featuring Andover State Bank
- HOW THE FRISCO ESTABLISHED A PERMANENT TOWN
- FROM CHALKBOARDS TO CHAMPIONS: THE STORY OF ANDOVER SCHOOLS
- MAKING OUR OWN FUN: PASTIMES AND ENTERTAINMENT IN ANDOVER
- SERVING OUR CITY: FIRE AND POLICE
- SERVICE & SACRIFICE: THE VETERANS OF ANDOVER
- MAPPING ANDOVER: THE SHAPE OF OUR TOWN
- SPACE FOR ROTATING EXHIBITS

Use Venmo to connect with Andover Historical Society, Inc. () - Mission of Andover Historical Museum: collect, preserve & share stories of the people, places, businesses & events that together tell the STORY OF ANDOVER.

10/10/2026

Would anyone be interested in this pipe figure, maybe for a Halloween prop?? It’s going in the trash, unless someone comes and gets it.