I had lived in Kansas eight years before I randomly discovered our own county history museum. I am a bookish museum-nerd, and visit every one I find when I travel. I have no idea why it took me so long to find this one, in my own county (!). But boy, am I glad fate led me here. It is filled with many stories…brought to life in the graphic displays.
The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center in Overland Park, Kansas is vast in its size. The bottom floor of the building contains the county history museum, which is a distinct organization from the art center on the upper floor. There is much to explore here.
In all my travels and visits to history museums, I don’t ever remember seeing a children’s interactive section. This one is termed “KidScape”. It is described by the welcoming sign, which announces – “where play meets the past”. If you want to introduce your children to history, I can’t imagine a better way, than to let them palpably engage with it.
In the adult section, I came upon this 1951 copper time capsule that was recently unearthed. The contents contained sealed documents from city officials, microfilm and audio reels. There was also a display from the 1891 time capsule, which included newspapers, mementos from the Civil War, the Odd Fellows, and other community organizations. It is kind of thrilling to be able to see the contents of those time capsules here in person.
I was intrigued by the 1950’s All-Electric House, which was billed as “A lazy man’s paradise”.
It was fun seeing all the old appliances in the kitchen. In the living room space, the painting above the mantel slid open to reveal the t.v. set. That must’ve been a huge wow back in the day.
It has the feel of being in Grandma’s house. Look at those bedspreads and the lace doilies on the dresser. And those bright colors in the bathroom! Many people today might disdainfully think it is garish, but it makes me smile, so I would consider it jazzy.
I was impressed by the display for the local Kenneth Smith Golf Company, that was in business for 76 years and contributed greatly to the design of clubs – including holding the patent on the perforated non-slip grip. Some of their clients included President Dwight Eisenhower, King Leopold of Belgium, Bob Hope and King Hassan of Morocco. My nephew is a designer for an international golf brand, and the intricacies of creating such a precise instrument are remarkable.
The Sunflower Army Ammuniton Plant operated from 1943 – 1992, producing a propellent rocket powder. During World War II, it was the largest producer in the world. It was built in the tiny town of Desoto, Kansas, because it was deemed safer for being in the middle of the country, and thus less susceptible to attack. The housing project for the workers was built in 1943, as a temporary village. Eighty years later, it is still there. Many of the houses are disintegrating, but are still inhabited. The plant produced nitroglycerine waste, and the soil suffered massive contamination for decades. I wondered about the long-term health effects of the workers (66% of whom were women). Were there any medical studies that tracked them? Archived records and photos can be explored on the website: https:https://jocohistory.org/
I moved back upstairs to the Art section of the Center. I was delighted to find a room for developmentally disabled emerging artists. The creator of the above art, Brad, greeted me and showed me around the gallery. I bought several of his greeting cards. The showroom, thankfully, has an online store.
I continued on down the hall, and discovered that there are a variety of rooms offering many classes. Above are the current choices. There is even a dance studio, a Makerspake and a theater for live performances.
I am grateful I found this treasure in Johnson County Kansas. I will return often. It has much to offer every visitor.