Museum of Ellinwood

07/22/2026

📸 From our friends at the Kansas Historical Society!

It's hard to imagine today, but there was a time when Highway 50 between Great Bend and Ellinwood was still being built. This fascinating photo, taken around 1927, shows a road construction crew using a grader to shape what would become one of our area's most important highways. The road wasn't paved until the 1930s.

Can you imagine making the trip between Great Bend and Ellinwood before Highway 50 was paved? We'd love to hear any family stories or memories you've heard about traveling these early roads.

Kansas began to see improvements to roads in the 19th and 20th centuries. A road construction crew is seen in this circa 1927 photo using a grader to create Highway 50 between Great Band and Ellinwood. The highway wasn’t paved until the 1930s. Get a closer look at this photo at www.kansasmemory.gov/item/217224

07/20/2026

Thank you all for the amazing response to our last post! We love seeing so many people getting excited about Ellinwood’s history and the stories that make our community special. ❤️

While we’re talking about all things historic Ellinwood, we wanted to share a little clarification: the Museum of Ellinwood and our friends at the Ellinwood Underground Tunnels are connected by a shared love of preserving local history — but we are two separate experiences!

The Tunnels offer a fascinating look beneath our streets and into a unique part of Ellinwood’s past, while the invites you to explore our collections, artifacts, photographs, and the many stories that have shaped our community.

We’re proud to work alongside the Tunnels to share Ellinwood’s history in different ways. There’s room for both — and we hope you’ll visit both!

The Museum of Ellinwood is open Thursday through Saturday and is staffed by our wonderful volunteers. Hours may vary based on volunteer availability, so we encourage visitors to check ahead before planning a trip.

Interested in being part of preserving Ellinwood’s history? We’re always looking for volunteers who want to help welcome visitors, share stories, and support the museum.

We can’t wait to see you!

07/15/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱?🌻

Whether it's your first or your fiftieth, we'd love to see you at the Museum of Ellinwood during AHF weekend! Stop in, explore our exhibits, and share a favorite festival memory while you're here.

𝗔𝗛𝗙 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀:
⌛Thursday & Friday 10:30 AM–4 PM | Saturday 1–4 PM.
📍104 N Main St, Ellinwood, KS 67526

07/13/2026

📣 The Museum of Ellinwood is looking for volunteers!

We are seeking friendly, dependable volunteers to help cover our guest welcome desk on Saturdays from 10:30 AM–4:00 PM.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who enjoys meeting people, supporting our community, or needing volunteer service hours for school, church, or other organizations.

✨ No history expert required!
This role is all about hospitality — welcoming visitors to Ellinwood, answering basic questions, and helping guests enjoy their museum experience.

The museum is air conditioned, and volunteers will have the opportunity to be part of preserving and sharing the stories that make Ellinwood special.

We are looking for someone who can commit to covering every other Saturday.

Interested in helping? Contact Joe Schulte at 620-797-1078.

06/16/2026

The Museum of Ellinwood needs a little help! We are looking for someone to cover the guest welcome desk this Saturday, and we’re also looking for volunteers to help us out this summer.

You do not have to be a historian — this is a guest services/hospitality role. You’ll be welcoming visitors, answering basic questions, and helping guests enjoy their time at the museum.

If you’re a high school student needing volunteer hours, this could be a great fit!

Interested in helping? Call Joe Schulte at 620-797-1078.

06/12/2026

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕!🕵️

Historical Society Chairman Joe Schulte has officially revealed the location of yesterday’s mystery plaque — Eagle Mutual Insurance on Main Street! 🦅

Thanks to everyone who played along! This is exactly the kind of fun that makes Ellinwood special — where history, humor, and community all live on the same block. 😄

📍 Come discover more hidden gems at the Museum of Ellinwood — open Thursday through Saturday!

06/11/2026

🏛️

On this site in 1897… nothing happened. 😄

This little gem is hiding in plain sight somewhere in downtown Ellinwood — and if you know where it is, drop a comment below! But shh… don’t give it away. 👀

Ellinwood is full of surprises like this — hidden history, dry wit, and stories around every corner. Come discover a few more of them in person.

📍 Museum of Ellinwood 104 N Main St — open Thursday through Saturday. We’d love to see you!

06/09/2026

What a wonderful evening at Wolf Manor! 🏡

The Ellinwood Community Historical Society held a meeting last night at the historic Wolf Manor, 110 W. 4th — and what a setting it was! Members enjoyed a history presentation on the Manor, which once served as the rectory for St. Joseph Church, followed by a tour of the beautifully preserved property.

Wolf Manor now operates as a bed & breakfast and historic lodging destination. The turnout was fantastic, and it’s easy to see why — the details in this home are simply stunning.

A heartfelt thank you to owner Chris McCord and his staff for graciously opening the doors and putting up with a very curious crowd of history lovers! 😄

Our meetings are now quarterly — our next gathering will be in September. Stay tuned for details!

📍 Plan a visit to the Museum of Ellinwood! We’re open Thursday through Saturday. Come see our new (old!) displays and discover the rich history of our community. We’d love to see you!