Chase County Historical Society and Museum

Specific Need

Donations are how the Chase County Historical Society and Museum are able to preserve artifacts, educate and keep up on building maintenance.

 

With Match Day funds we plan to provide more resources such as, books and videos to capture our past and present before it is lost, to hold special community events and restorations, such as, the upstairs "ballroom" to use for, climate safe storage for artifacts, events and more exhibit space.

Mission

As stated in the bylaws: The mission of this society shall be to collect, organize, document and preserve all materials pertinent to the history of Chase County, Kansas.

Profile

The Chase County Historical Society was formed in 1934. 75 years after the County Seat was announced. The first meetings and collections were stored in the Courthouse basement and later moved to the basement of the library. In 1976 the "Bank" building was purchased for a museum to be open to the public. In 2005 the "Cartter" building located just south off the museum was purchased from the USD 284 school board. These buildings were placed on the National Historic Register in 1977.

 

The Chase County Historical Society & Museum is a Non profit organization. We offer today 2 buildings of displays. A, Knute Rockne plane crash site display in the South building including a "Rockne" Studerbaker car and houses our genealogy department. The north building has 2 floors and 9 rooms that display local items donated or on loan that are telling stories of our past.

 

What do we offer besides displays?

  • Historical books on Chase County: Chase County Sketches I - IV, Roots & Patchwork and Courthouse Centennial 1972
  • Museum library of books
  • A research library on history: Communities and people
  • Genealogy department: Obituaries, cemeteries, family files and much more
  • Newspaper archives and a micro film Machine
  • Special events: Rockne Memorial, Sesquicentennial Courthouse Celebration and a booth at the Folklife Festival
  • Educational programs: Hosting school & community tours, videos on historic history and local newspaper articles
  • Special displays: Veterans display 3 times a year and a monthly themed showcase

 

What are we working on currently:

  • Chase County Sketches book V
  • Sesquicentennial (150 years) Celebration of the Courthouse on October 6 & 7, 2023
  • Biannual Newsletter
  • 2023, researching and writing a historical Chase County, Ks. book for the Sesquicentennial of the Courthouse
  • Chase County history videos, working with Mr. Alfred Eckes

These are just a few of the things we offer and are working on. We are excited to provide more!

Photos & Videos

Match Day 2023
Our buildings are on the National Historical listing. Chase County National Bank & Cartter buildings
Our buildings are on the National Historical listing. Chase County National Bank & Cartter buildings
2019 museum
2019 museum
Located In Historical Cottonwood Falls downtown, 301 & 303 Broadway street
Located In Historical Cottonwood Falls downtown, 301 & 303 Broadway street
Match Day 2019, working with the kids.
Match Day 2019, working with the kids.
Videos available by CCHS&M
Videos available by CCHS&M
Living With Forces of Nature in Chase County
Chase County's Hidden Wealth, Quarries, Stonecutters and a Construction Empire - A. Eckes & CsCoHist
Rediscovering the West, Chase County, Ks. - Dr. Al Eckes & Cs Co Hist Soc.
School Bells in Chase County
If Chase County Tombstones Could Talk
The Iron Horse Comes to Chase County, Kansas
Displays to view
Displays to view
We offer artifacts & history on the Knute Rockne plane crash (Rocne Studebaker to view)
We offer artifacts & history on the Knute Rockne plane crash (Rocne Studebaker to view)
PrairyErth by William Least Heat Moon was written about Chase County, Ks. we offer a display of item
PrairyErth by William Least Heat Moon was written about Chase County, Ks. we offer a display of item
Our Museum Library offers community & state history books to view and research from.
Our Museum Library offers community & state history books to view and research from.
The Bank building holds an original bank safe to view that holds many archives also.
The Bank building holds an original bank safe to view that holds many archives also.
Post office room - display
Post office room - display
Ranch wall across from our barb wire display
Ranch wall across from our barb wire display
Quilt display
Quilt display
Camera display
Camera display
Barb wire display
Barb wire display
Dentist & Dr. office display
Dentist & Dr. office display
All about town
All about town
School room display
School room display
Domestic room
Domestic room
Western room - ranching, rodeo & farm
Western room - ranching, rodeo & farm
Veteran's room
Veteran's room
Outdoor display area
Outdoor display area
Chuckwagon
Chuckwagon
Our Buildings
Our Buildings
2019 Chase County Historical Society Museum & Research Library
2019 Chase County Historical Society Museum & Research Library
2019 Historical downtown
2019 Historical downtown
2019 Front view of building
2019 Front view of building
2019 close up Museum building
2019 close up Museum building
Services we offer
Services we offer
Public micro film machine to view newspapers up to 2012
Public micro film machine to view newspapers up to 2012
Obituary files for research
Obituary files for research
Family genealogy books
Family genealogy books
Collective community history
Collective community history
Not so Glamorous areas of the Museum
Not so Glamorous areas of the Museum
Not so glamorous parts of the museum. We could use repairs on the entery way into the museum.
Not so glamorous parts of the museum. We could use repairs on the entery way into the museum.
Added with Match Day Funds! We could use an upstairs A/C. Artifacts need temperature control.
Added with Match Day Funds! We could use an upstairs A/C. Artifacts need temperature control.
Not so glamorous. We would love to reopen this stairway to the upstairs.
Not so glamorous. We would love to reopen this stairway to the upstairs.
Not so glamorous. Space we would like to restore for display & artifact storage.
Not so glamorous. Space we would like to restore for display & artifact storage.
Not so glamorous. This room is not used because it needs desperate repairs.
Not so glamorous. This room is not used because it needs desperate repairs.
Not so glamorous. Another room in need of repair.
Not so glamorous. Another room in need of repair.
Not so glamorous. More space that could be used efficiently if remodeled
Not so glamorous. More space that could be used efficiently if remodeled
Match Day Funds at Work
Match Day Funds at Work
New blinds installed with Match Day funds!
New blinds installed with Match Day funds!
Blind installed using Match Day Funds!
Blind installed using Match Day Funds!
Match Day Funds at work, new AC/Heater in the room holding artifacts and archives
Match Day Funds at work, new AC/Heater in the room holding artifacts and archives
Match Day Funds at Work, new split unit AC/Heater for Museum displays
Match Day Funds at Work, new split unit AC/Heater for Museum displays
Match Day Funds at work, new split unit in Museum display areas
Match Day Funds at work, new split unit in Museum display areas
Match Day Funds at Work, new curtians to darken "Domestics" display room
Match Day Funds at Work, new curtians to darken "Domestics" display room
Tuck point work on the south wall paid by funds raised through Match Day!
Tuck point work on the south wall paid by funds raised through Match Day!
South wall repairs, paid by Match Day funds
South wall repairs, paid by Match Day funds
South wall rock repair, Match Day funds at work!
South wall rock repair, Match Day funds at work!
Stone work on the south wall, Paid by Match Day donations!
Stone work on the south wall, Paid by Match Day donations!
Cool work being done on the building stone! Thank you Match Day Donors!
Cool work being done on the building stone! Thank you Match Day Donors!
Taking out the damaged pillar
Taking out the damaged pillar
Cutting out the damaged stone
Cutting out the damaged stone
New pillar
New pillar
New pillar, craftmanship
New pillar, craftmanship
Completed stone work & pillar on the Cartter Building, paid by Match Day Funds!
Completed stone work & pillar on the Cartter Building, paid by Match Day Funds!

Contact

303 Broadway PO Box 375
COTTONWOOD FALLS, KS 66845
Phone: (620) 273-8500

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