Tonganoxie Community Historical Society

08/20/2026

Dispelling ‘Myth Perceptions’ about American Indians and the U.S. Government

This program will explore Constitutional recognition of tribes, the relationships of different administrative policies, assimilation efforts by the government, termination efforts, the era of Self-Determination, and consultation between the tribes and the federal government. The presentation will also include historical perspectives, family stories, and work experiences that will help refute common misperceptions of held by many non-Indians.

Cathy is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma and a retired lawyer. She has a vast amount of work experience including serving at Indian Health Service as the National Director for Emergency Medical Services and National Director for Community Health Representatives. She also worked as the Clients’ Rights Advocate at the San Diego Regional Center, a non-profit agency that served persons with developmental disabilities.

Cathy and her husband are retired and have resided in Basehor for 21 years.

The event begins at 7 pm with a brief business meeting followed by the historical program.

All are welcome for this free program. Refreshments will be served following the program.

07/18/2026

Humanities Kansas Declaration Conversations

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Humanities Kansas, in partnership with 51 Kansas communities, brought America’s founding document to life through Declaration at 250. Produced by Humanities Kansas and the Creative Impact Alliance, the film captures the spirit of Kansans coming together for readings and discussions about the Declaration of Independence in Belleville, Franklin, Overland Park, and Tonganoxie.

This is "Humanities Kansas Declarations Conversations" by Marlo Angell on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

07/06/2026

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. But it would take several days for colonists to hear or read the document. We will celebrate the first reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon, who read the document on the State House Lawn in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

Join communities across the United States and its Territories in an initiative led by the Hawai’i America 250 Commission in reading the Declaration at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time on July 8, 2026.

Communities across the United States and its Territories will also read the Declaration at the same time.

07/02/2026

On July 3 of 1776, John Adams wrote home to his wife, Abigail, as he did so often while he was part of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia and she was at home in Massachusetts. In this letter, Adams recounted the drama of July 2, when the Continental Congress, with one vote for each colony represented, passed a resolution on Independence as outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

Adams was beside himself with pride, writing that “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America…[and] ought to be commemorated…[and] celebrated by succeeding generations as the great American Festival [with] pomp and parade, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations.”

John Adams got the date wrong, but he did forecast the celebratory way in which we celebrate Independence.

On July 3, only member of the Continental Congress had seen the Declaration, which was carefully guarded form the eyes of the British. However, a printer in Philadelphia was occupied laying out the document for printing. The Declaration was printed and delivered by messengers on horseback to all of the thirteen colonies and by ship to Europe.

The Declaration was first read to the public for the first time a few days later on July 8, 1776. Colonel John Nixon, a Philadelphia militiaman, read the document in a park (now Independence Square). TCHS and Tonganoxie are joining communities across the country and its territories at 5:00 pm CST on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 to read the Declaration of Independence aloud in Gallagher Park. Local Tonganoxie citizens will read the document. Copies of the Declaration will be available for all in attendance so that you can follow along. Feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Enjoy your Fourth of July this weekend, and then join us at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, July 8 at the new gazebo in Gallagher Park, 301 S. Main Street, Tonganoxie.

The TCHS Board of Directors

06/20/2026

Come check us out on a hot summers day in our COOL museum!

06/13/2026

PLEASE NOTE: The Museum will be CLOSED to the public on Tuesday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 17, due to driveway construction.

06/06/2026

What a great History Camp Week was had. We learned so much and did so many hand-on projects. Thanks to the staff (who were always too busy to pose for a picture).

06/05/2026

Day 5 Transportation Day/Optics - After doing a timeline of how people get around (from feet to rockets!), we made paper airplanes and then flew them outside. We then built a bridge and used telescopes, binoculars, spy glasses and convex and concave lenses and mirrors to see things differently near and far. As you can see the staff made showbox pin-hole cameras for us.

06/05/2026

Day 4 – Water Day - After working on our flags, we got to walk out to the spring to see where travelers used top. We learned about windmills and actually made one with 3 legs and a spinning blade. We created water filers and used them to filter different materials. We found out what can clean up an oil spill and investigated water under microscopes.

06/04/2026

History Camp - Day 3 – Communication Day – We built a timeline of communication styles from oldest to most recent. Steve helped us build a real telegraph line and send Morse Code signals. We learned about sign language and then we did our spy decoders. We got to look at Susie’s winter calendar on deer hide and then make our own.