John Brown Museum State Historic Site

07/30/2026

McLain’s Independent Battery, Company K of 2nd Colorado Cavalry and Civilian Reserve
The Colorado Volunteers

Colorado’s first and only battery of muzzle-loading artillery shares its roots with all of the other volunteer regiments raised in the Colorado Territory during the Civil War. It was mustered in 1862 in Denver, Colorado.
Captain William D. McLain’s Independent Battery of Colorado Volunteer Artillery began in July of 1862 when a train with six 12 pounder mountain howitzers arrived in Denver. The Independent Battery of Colorado Volunteers was officially mustered into the United States service in Denver on December 15, 1862.
The Battery was involved in battles in California; New Mexico; Colorado; Missouri; Kansas; and in Arkansas.
McLain’s Battery have been stationed in Camp Weld and Fort Garland in Colorado; Kansas City, Missouri; Ft. Larned, Fort Leavenworth, and Paola in Kansas.
McLain’s Battery remained in Paola until after the Confederate surrender in April, 1865. The Battery saw little action during the summer. McLain’s Independent Colorado Battery was officially mustered out of the United States service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on August 31, 1865.
In early 2005, the McLain’s Battery reenactment group was organized with a handful of dismounted cavalrymen, a couple of horses, and an old mountain howitzer cannon that had seen better days. After a time of regimental changes, McLain’s became McLain’s Battery/2nd Cavalry Company K, Colorado Volunteers. Since that time membership has grown and new howitzers have been acquired.
In history Company K had a presence at Mine Creek and Marais des Cygnes that no other Colorado troops had.

“Everywhere in front, they were to the rebels as is Death on the pale horse to the wicked.”

Come to the Freedom Festival in John Brown Memorial Park in Osawatomie on Saturday, September 19, 2026, to see them in ACTION during their battle reenactment and to visit their living history era focused encampment, learning more about their regiment!!

07/29/2026

BATTERY B, 3rd KANSAS LIGHT ARTILLERY
The Battery B, 3rd Kansas Light Artillery is a Civil War reenactment unit organized in 1989 to continue as an actual Civil War unit from Kansas.

History of the battery shows that it was organized in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1862. It had four to six cannons that fired 6-pound cannon balls. This required each cannon to be pulled by 6 horses, making Battery B a mounted artillery.

The battery’s battles standing out the most were: Honey Springs, Webber’s Falls, Fort Gibson, and Scullyville in Oklahoma and Prairie Grove, Kane Hill, and Rhea’s Mills in Arkansas. They also took part in border skirmishes and occupations in Missouri and Kansas.

The Battery B, 3rd Kansas Light Artillery mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1865.

Come enjoy the reenactment by Battery B, 3rd Kansas Light Artillery with their cannons at our Freedom Festival 2006, Saturday, September 19 10am – 9pm!

07/15/2026

Come join our Artisans' and Crafts' Vendors Fair at our Freedom Festival 2026!!
https://osawatomiekansas-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/psharp_osawatomieks_org/IQD0S5KEIwwVSJojTRyIPVUQAZyqxkDejw9lJmd_Y2lT_kU?e=8BhIU7

07/15/2026

HIRING NOW! APPLY ONLINE AT www.osawatomieks.org

07/14/2026

With Freedom Festival 2026 coming in September, we want to share a bit of history of the regiments' who will be here as reenactors.

Elliott's Scouts were a 9th Regiment Missouri Confederate Cavalry based in Missouri. The regiment was named in honor of Colonel Benjamin Elliott, a key officer in the Confederate Missouri Cavalry and were the "eyes and ears" of Civil War General Joseph Shelby and his Confederate Iron Brigade. His motto was "The Advance Never Retreats"! The regiment was also known as the 1st Missouri Cavalry Battalion or the 10th Missouri Calvalry Regiment.
The 9th Missouri Cavalry (Elliott's Scouts) was a Confederate mounted and dismounted unit active in Missouri during the Civil War. It served alongside other Missouri Confederate units and played an important part in the Civil War. Members included hundreds of men from Missouri and surrounding states.
The Elliott's Scouts Re-enactment Unit was formed in 1994. It consists of men, women, and family members. They portray both Confederate and Union mounted and dismounted cavalry, bushwackers and guerillas in unit maneuvers and battle skirmishes. What fun!!
Come on Saturday, September 19, 2026, to see them in ACTION during their battle reenactment and to visit their living history era focused encampment, learning more about their regiment!!
Keep posted on our page for more upcoming information!!

07/09/2026

It is with great sadness that we let you know that our beloved volunteer, Peggy Morris, passed away. She will be truly missed! May God be with her family.

07/07/2026

Happy July Birthdays!!

July 2, 1851: Mary Gardner Adair, the wife of Charles Adair and daughter-in-law of Rev. Samuel and Florella Brown Adair. We owe a huge thank you to Mary Adair for playing a very instrumental part in preserving the Adair Cabin and having it moved to the John Brown Memorial Park.

July 11, 1839: Abbie Hinckley Brown, wife of Salmon Brown and daughter-in-law of John and Mary Day Brown. Abbie was the last surviving immediate member of John Brown's family.

July 22, 1844: John Brown, Jr., first born child of John and Dianthe Lusk Brown. John Jr. was an instrumental part of Bleeding Kansas.

July 25, 1844: Henry Martin Adair, son of Rev. Samuel and Florella Brown Adair. Henry lived to the age of 4.

Let us celebrate the connections that these people have to our community's history!!

07/03/2026

07/01/2026

06/23/2026

OUR MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 FROM 12 - 1PM FOR AN OUTREACH MEETING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE THE JOHN BROWN STATUE AND THE BATTLEFIELD KIOSKS DURING THAT TIME.