Journey Stories

The Smithsonian Traveling exhibit tour in Atchison has wrapped up - scroll down to see photos from the exhibt and events.

The museum is located at 200 S. 10th Street, in the Santa Fe Depot, Atchison, KS 66002

913-367-6238 or GoWest@atchisonhistory.org

Photos above: April 6 - Special youth program at the Atchison Library, Water, Wagons & Wheels!

Journey Stories, a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution, was in Atchison, KS as the last stop of a six stop tour of Kansas sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Council from Feb. 26-April 11, 2010.

The exhibit looks at the aspects of how we as Americans came to be where we are today - looking at the ways we traveled - the reasons we moved and the reasons we contine to move - the people who crossed oceans to get here of their own accord and those who had no say in the where they went. In six exhibit stations a vast array of information is presented, in photos, artifacts, sound and video - you are sure to see yourself and your own story in the exhibit.

Photos above: Bob Staley's Orphan Train Program - March 25, 2010.

Local companion exhibits by the Atchison County Historical Society - look at the rich railroad history of our community and the impact that made on Atchison County - we also examine the role the Missouri River has played as bringing people and properity to the community and the problems with "Crossing the Big Muddy" including looking at the new bridge set for completion in 2011.

Photos above: Visitors to Journey Stories in Atchison County Historical Society Museum.

We also examine the path traveled by the Kanza - the Native Americans for whom our state is named - and the first permanent settlers in our backyard. Through April we will continue this examination of Atchison County and Northeast Kansas' earliest inhabitants both with Journey Stories and through Kansas Archeology Month during April 2010.

Photos above & below: Don Blakesless Native American Artifact Identification Program - April 3, 2010.

You may also bring your own story to the museum and be a part of the exhibit - we invite everyone in the community to share their own Journey Story and submit your own story of how you arrived in Kansas. We are still accepting Journey Stories to add to the companion exhibit and to add to our history files. These stories will be archived online in the future.

Photos Below: Wagon Train, Pony Express & Railroad Day at the Museum April 10, 2010.

Photos above: Free Wagon Rides.

Photos above: Demonstrations of Dutch Oven Cooking - Mountain Man Breakfast, Cornbread and "Dump" Cake - peach cobbler.

Photos above: Yvonne Larson - "Nan's Covered Wagon" entertained & informed visitors on life on the Oregon Trail.

Photos above: Kansas Pony Express Members demonstrated Pony Express equipment and skills. Re-enactments of Pony Express mochilla exchanges were done along July 4th 1804 Creek (aka White Clay Creek) at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.

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