Wilson County Kansas Historical Society

10/23/2026

ISO information from the experts in the history of Altoona, KS. The museum has had a request for identification and information about these photos. All are believed to be from Altoona, Wilson County, KS. The photos of the house are of the residence of Albert Steinkamp. Can anybody identify the location?

Thanks in advance!

10/21/2026

10/20/2026

🌟 IT’S MUSEUM AFTER HOURS WEEK AGAIN! 🌟

This Wednesday at 7:00 PM, join us as we explore the history of the Osage Nation—the first people to call Wilson County home.

Long before white settlers arrived and legally claimed these lands, the Osage people lived, traveled, hunted, and built their lives here. Come learn more about the people and history that happened long before the existence of Fredonia and Wilson County as we know them today.

📅 Wednesday, October 21
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Wilson County Historical Museum
📱 Or join us LIVE on Facebook!

The museum will be open from 6-7:30pm this Wednesday, in addition to our regular hours.

10/20/2026

Have you noticed the activity at the museum this week? Our porch is getting a face-life thanks to Convoy of Hope and the Grace First Church! While the porch is being painted and the front entrance is closed, the museum will still be open our usual hours. Enter through the south gate, use the steps to the south porch, and then the south door will be open. Welcome!

10/19/2026

❤️ LOVE HISTORY? LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY?

Do you enjoy what you see the Wilson County Historical Museum doing in our community? Then come support us at our Annual Fundraiser!

📅 Thursday, November 6
🕠 Drop in anytime between 5:30–7:30 PM
🎟️ Admission: Just $10
💰 Donations of any amount are always welcome—and yes, we accept credit cards! 💳

We have lots of fun activities planned for the evening!

📜 How well do you know the Declaration of Independence?
Test your knowledge with our Declaration of Independence Trivia Quiz!

👩‍🦰 Meet the Heroines of the Revolution!
Several young women will portray women who played important roles during the American Revolution.

🎲 Wilson County History BINGO — 7:00 PM
Think you know Wilson County history? Come test your knowledge and have some fun!

🥣 Make it a night of supporting local nonprofits!
Start your evening with a delicious bowl of soup at the Fredonia Arts Council Soup Supper, then take a short walk down the street and join us for our fundraiser and activities.

Your support helps the Wilson County Historical Museum continue preserving and sharing Wilson County history for generations to come.

❤️ Thank you for all the many ways you support our local nonprofit organizations! We appreciate YOU!

Come for the history. Stay for the fun. Help us preserve the past!

Wilson Co. Historical Museum in Fredonia, KS is located in the former jail and houses many genealogical research materials & displays.

10/18/2026

⚰️ JOIN US TODAY FOR TALKING TOMBSTONES! 📖

We’ll see you at 3:00 PM at the Fredonia City Cemetery for an afternoon of local history, fascinating stories, and a few surprises!

📍 Look for the flag on the west side of the cemetery — that’s where you’ll find us!

🧥 It’s jacket weather, finally! So grab your jacket, bring your own chair, and come enjoy this special afternoon with us.

Admission is FREE! Bring a friend and join us!

See you at 3! 👻📖⚰️

10/17/2026

🤔 CAN YOU GUESS WHO?

One of the women featured in this Sunday’s Talking Tombstones program was a graduate of Fredonia Business College in 1909 and went on to work as a secretary and bookkeeper at Kennedy Printing Company.

For a time, she and her husband also owned a grocery store on the north side of the Square.

📖 Do you know who she was?

Come join us Sunday to discover her story and learn about several other notable Fredonia citizens. You’ll hear fascinating stories, uncover local history, and perhaps even be surprised by what you learn!

📅 Sunday, October 18
🕒 3:00 PM
📍 Fredonia City Cemetery

⚰️ Admission is FREE! Bring a friend and join us for an afternoon of intriguing stories, local history, and a few surprises!

📖 Who do you think she was? Share your guess in the comments below!

We’ll see you Sunday! 👻

10/16/2026

🤔 CAN YOU GUESS WHO?

📸 One of the women featured in this Sunday’s Talking Tombstones program once had a photograph she took featured on the Associated Press news wire! Do you know who she was?

Come join us to discover her story and learn about several other notable Fredonia citizens. You’ll hear fascinating stories, uncover local history, and perhaps even be surprised by what you learn!

📅 Sunday, October 18
🕒 3:00 PM
📍 Fredonia City Cemetery

⚰️ Admission is FREE! Bring a friend and join us for an afternoon of intriguing stories, local history, and a few surprises!

📖 Who do you think she was? Share your guess in the comments below!

We’ll see you Sunday! 👻

10/15/2026

🤔 Can you guess who?

One of the women featured in this Sunday’s Talking Tombstones program once worked at the Women’s Prison Farm in Lansing. Do you know who she was?

Come join us to learn about her and several other notable Fredonia citizens—and hear the stories that make our local history so fascinating!

📅 Sunday, October 18
🕒 3:00 PM
📍 Fredonia City Cemetery

Admission is FREE! Bring a friend and join us for an afternoon of local history, fascinating stories, and a few surprises!

⚰️📖 We’ll see you Sunday!