Watkins Museum of History

06/18/2026

Thanks to you, the museum made Top 5 in TWO Best of Lawrence categories! The wait is on for the Winners Bash on September 2 to see if we made top three in Community Landmark and/or Best Place to Take an Out-of-Towner. For now, we wanted to extend a huge "Thank you" to anyone who took the time to vote ❤️

Oh, and Runner also made top 5 in the working or service animal category!

06/18/2026

All the rain we've had this year has Maggie's Garden bursting at the seams! It was only a couple of months ago that we were first starting to see signs of life. 🦋🐛💐

06/18/2026

Great news! Our 2025 Annual Report is finished and ready for viewing! The document has been uploaded to the Watkins' website and hard copies are available for pickup at the museum upon request.

https://www.watkinsmuseum.org/2026/06/2025-annual-report

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

Summer Games begins in just ONE HOUR. Will you be joining us as we learn about Algeria this week? Attendees can enter a raffle to win a $50 Toy Store gift card! Participants can enter the drawing each week they attend to increase their chances. Summer Games continues on Wednesdays through June and July from 10am-12pm in the Watkins Community Room.

06/16/2026

This week in our summer games series, we will be learning more about Algeria! Visit the Watkins Museum between 10am-12pm on Wednesday, June 17th to join in the fun. This program is free and open to the public; no registration is required. We hope to see you there!

06/16/2026

Runner wants to remind everyone that she will be back this Friday, June 19th, with her puppy raisers to talk about the importance of service dogs. Join us at the museum from 11am to 12pm for this exciting event. Don't forget there will be FREE Culver's custard available to those who register! To register for the event, please contact Shannon at [email protected]

06/12/2026

Experts from the National Weather Service and Douglas County Emergency Management will join us for a free public event focusing on severe weather in Kansas and tips for staying safe when it hits.

This event will be held in-person and also livestreamed on the Watkins Museum Facebook and YouTube.

In-person attendees will enter and exit through our 11th Street side entrance. This event is in connection with our exhibit Lawrence in the Path of Destruction.

� New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! �

06/12/2026

"America’s Bicentennial in Douglas County" opened today in our Community Gallery! This festive and reflective exhibition features photographs of the Bicentennial parade down Massachusetts Street, as well as commemorative items like a “Spirit of America” model train. Prompts in the exhibit invite visitors to reflect on themes of celebration and commemoration. The free exhibition will be on view on the museum’s first floor through August 15.

06/11/2026

Thanks, Lawrence Journal-World! The Douglas County Public Servants Past & Present Tribute Gallery, part of the America at 250 series, is open for submissions through June 20.

Throughout his more than 30 years of working in government, one thing Porter Arneill has observed about public employees is their humility. “Most of my peers are very humble people, and they don’t like the limelight,” said Arneill, Lawrence’s assistant director of Parks, Recreation, Arts & C...