Watkins Community Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts Street Lawrence , Kansas 66044 (785) 841-4109 May - October: Tuesday - Sunday November - April: Tuesday - Saturday $5 donation requested Watkins Community Museum of History Map KU Museum of Natural History

Watkins Community Museum of History - Lawrence, Kansas

Although the Watkins Community Museum of History is located on a busy corner in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, I passed it well over 100 times without knowing it was there. At that time, there were no signs on the museum building indicating there is a museum. An oversight that has since been corrected.

Watkins Community Museum of History, created by the Douglas County Historical Society, is worth visiting. It does a better job than most local historical museums of putting its exhibits in context and explaining local history. Two of the more interesting exhibits tell the stories of former Lawrence residents: Langston Hughes and Dr. John Naismith.

The building itself is also interesting. It was commissioned by Lawrence financier Jabez Bunting (J.B.) Watkins to house the Land Mortgage Company & Watkins National Bank, and constructed between 1885 & 1888.

The Watkins Community Museum of History hosts lectures and special events. Visit the museum's website or call (785) 841-4109 for details

copyright 2007-2021 by Keith Stokes