Miners Hall Museum

08/30/2026

🥂 ARE YOU READY? 🥂

The countdown to Making Spirits Bright – Raise a Glass to Victory has begun!

This year, we have SIX amazing Celebrity Bartenders ready to shake things up—and we can’t wait to tell you who they are!

⭐ Celebrity Bartender Reveal — September 9
🎟️ Members-Only Ticket Sales — September 28
🎟️ General Public Ticket Sales — October 5

Mark those calendars… Making Spirits Bright is coming! 🍸✨

08/30/2026

As students head back to school, we're reminded that some of life's greatest lessons aren't found in textbooks—they're passed down through families.
What lesson has your family taught you? Hard work? Kindness? Faith? Service? Love of country?

Honor those who came before you by adding your family's story to the Liberty Ledgers. Whether it's two lines, four lines, or a full page, your words will become part of a permanent historical record.

Even if you can't visit in person, you can still be part of history. Call the museum to make your credit card payment by phone, and we'll handwrite your tribute exactly as you wish in the appropriate Liberty Ledger. Just tell us or email exactly what you'd like your entry to say.

FAQs - THE LEDGER PROJECT:
What would you like people to know about your family, your community, or life in Southeast Kansas in 2026? Whether it's a favorite memory, a family story, words of wisdom, or simply your name and hometown, your contribution will become part of a permanent historical record.

✍️ Choose the option that fits your story:
Ledger options include:
• Patriot Ledger — $5 (2 lines)
• Liberty Ledger — $10 (4 lines)
• Legacy Ledger — $25 (up to one page)

The ledgers will remain available throughout 2026 at Miners Hall Museum and selected community events before being permanently preserved for the future.
The completed ledgers will be sealed in a time vault at the end of 2026 as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

As a special thank you, every participant will receive a unique commemorative Liberty Ledger keepsake card to take home. Created exclusively for this project, these collectible cards celebrate America's 250th anniversary and serve as a lasting reminder that your story became part of the historical record.

08/30/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to our favorite attorney, Kevin Mitchelson! 🎂⚖️

Kevin has been part of our story since the Franklin tornado in 2003. Through the years, he helped form Franklin Community Council, Inc., later created the Miners Hall Museum Foundation, and eventually guided us through merging the two organizations into one Foundation.

Kevin, along with his brother John and the team at Wheeler & Mitchelson, Chartered, has shown us time and again the true meaning of giving back and helping others. Kevin has answered countless questions, offered advice whenever we needed it, and even responded to those “just one quick question” emails that somehow arrive late at night! 😊

For more than two decades, we have been incredibly fortunate to have their guidance and support—and especially grateful for Kevin’s friendship, patience, and willingness to always be there when we need him.

Kevin, we hope your birthday comes with no contracts to review, no nonprofit questions to answer, and absolutely no late-night emails from Miners Hall Museum! 😂

Happy Birthday, Kevin! Thank you for being such an important part of our story. 🎉

08/29/2026

Every Family Teaches Something
Every family has traditions.
Every family has stories.
Every family has lessons worth preserving.
What will yours leave behind?

Visit Miners Hall Museum and become part of the Liberty Ledger project.
Live out of town or unable to stop by? We'd still love to include your story. Just call the museum to make your credit card payment over the phone, and our staff will personally handwrite your message in the appropriate Liberty Ledger.

FAQs - THE LEDGER PROJECT:
What would you like people to know about your family, your community, or life in Southeast Kansas in 2026? Whether it's a favorite memory, a family story, words of wisdom, or simply your name and hometown, your contribution will become part of a permanent historical record.

✍️ Choose the option that fits your story:
Ledger options include:
• Patriot Ledger — $5 (2 lines)
• Liberty Ledger — $10 (4 lines)
• Legacy Ledger — $25 (up to one page)

The ledgers will remain available throughout 2026 at Miners Hall Museum and selected community events before being permanently preserved for the future.
The completed ledgers will be sealed in a time vault at the end of 2026 as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

As a special thank you, every participant will receive a unique commemorative Liberty Ledger keepsake card to take home. Created exclusively for this project, these collectible cards celebrate America's 250th anniversary and serve as a lasting reminder that your story became part of the historical record.

08/28/2026

Who taught you life's most important lessons?
Perhaps it was a parent, grandparent, teacher, neighbor, or friend.

The Liberty Ledgers are a chance to honor those people by preserving the values and memories they passed on. One day, future generations may read your words and discover the people who shaped your life.

Can't make it to the museum? No problem! Simply call us to make your credit card payment over the phone, and a member of our staff will carefully handwrite your message in the appropriate Ledger for you. Just tell us or email exactly what you'd like your entry to say.

FAQs - THE LEDGER PROJECT:
What would you like people to know about your family, your community, or life in Southeast Kansas in 2026? Whether it's a favorite memory, a family story, words of wisdom, or simply your name and hometown, your contribution will become part of a permanent historical record.

✍️ Choose the option that fits your story:
Ledger options include:
• Patriot Ledger — $5 (2 lines)
• Liberty Ledger — $10 (4 lines)
• Legacy Ledger — $25 (up to one page)

The ledgers will remain available throughout 2026 at Miners Hall Museum and selected community events before being permanently preserved for the future.
The completed ledgers will be sealed in a time vault at the end of 2026 as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

As a special thank you, every participant will receive a unique commemorative Liberty Ledger keepsake card to take home. Created exclusively for this project, these collectible cards celebrate America's 250th anniversary and serve as a lasting reminder that your story became part of the historical record.

08/28/2026

I had the pleasure of visiting with Lisa Smith of Big Blend Radio & Magazine for an interview about Miners Hall Museum, our area history, and our connection to the historic Jefferson Highway.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Lisa and her wonderful mom, Nancy, at conferences and through several Big Blend interviews. They have a genuine love for travel, history, and the people and places they encounter along the way—and they are always such a joy to visit with.

Lisa has now launched Big Blend Radio’s “Getting to Know You” series on the Jefferson Highway Podcast, sharing the stories of the communities and people found along this historic route.

Thank you, Lisa and Nancy, for all you do to help tell these stories and introduce listeners to some pretty special places along the Jefferson Highway. Miners Hall Museum is delighted to be part of the journey!

Take a listen to our interview below! 🎙️🚗

Phyllis Bitner, Chair of the Miners Hall Museum Foundation, joins Big Blend Radio to share Franklin, Kansas's coal mining and immigrant history, the Page 618 Walking Dragline project, and life along the Jefferson Highway.