Friends of the Lyon County History Center

Goal: $25,000.00

Specific Need

The Friends of the History Center supports the storytellers, history keepers and collection caretakers of Lyon County history and culture.

Funds from the Emporia Community Foundation Match Day go toward the History Center's educational programs, the Loretto Langley Kidville Crossing kids' area, exhibits and partner collaborations.  Next year, the Lyon County Historical Society turns 90! The Friends of the History Center will help staff in planning special events and exhibits to commemorate this milestone year. 

History doesn't change, but how it is shared does. Here are a few of the projects currently in progress:

  • Educational programming including workshops, guest speakers, performances and outreach presentations
  • Local register of historic places and century family and building recognition 
  • Lyon County history and culture activity booklet 
  • New activities to the Loretto Langley Kidville Crossing, a kid friendly area 
  • New lighting for the first floor exhibit gallery
  • Temporary exhibit fabrication
  • Second floor exhibit hall reboot

Mission

To provide support for projects and programs of the Lyon County History Center.

Profile

In 1937, friends of Lyon County history and culture joined forces to save the county's historical and cultural stories and relics.  Since that first meeting, volunteers have been the back bone of the Lyon County History Center and Historical Society. The friends group was officially organized as the History Heroes in 2017.  The name was changed to Friends of the History Center in 2022 to reflect its mission and to be more identifiable. 

FOHC supports the only educational and community based organization in Lyon County with the following objectives: 
1) Saving and sharing the stories of Lyon County history and culture
2) Operating a repository for Lyon County's tangible history 
3) Instilling community pride, igniting conversations and inspiring connections through storytelling

The Friends supports the following services offered by the Lyon County History Center: 

  • Historical and cultural research
  • Archival and artifact preservation and conservation
  • History and culture related workshops - genealogy, family heirloom care, historic property research
  • Facility rentals
  • Educational programming for patrons of all ages
  • Engagement through outreach programs and tours
  • Exhibit fabrication on and off-site
  • A hands-on kids' area - Loretto Langley Kidville Crossing

Photos & Videos

Match Day 2025
Veterans Day artwork and letters created by local students on display in the front windows.
Veterans Day artwork and letters created by local students on display in the front windows.
Students compare then and now using a 1920s photo and what they see out the third floor windows.
Students compare then and now using a 1920s photo and what they see out the third floor windows.
Exploring local history and culture during a field trip.
Exploring local history and culture during a field trip.
Scavenger hunt fun!
Scavenger hunt fun!
Come play at the Loretto Langley Kidville Crossing
Come play at the Loretto Langley Kidville Crossing
Light table fun in our Loretto Langley Kidville Crossing
Light table fun in our Loretto Langley Kidville Crossing
Teacher workshop presented by LCHC and ESU professor, Dr. Darla Mallein.
Teacher workshop presented by LCHC and ESU professor, Dr. Darla Mallein.
Jigsaw Jam in partnership with Emporia Main Street and Trox Gallery and Gift.
Jigsaw Jam in partnership with Emporia Main Street and Trox Gallery and Gift.
Piece, love, and joy at the Jigsaw Jam. Partnership with Emporia Main Street and Trox Gallery.
Piece, love, and joy at the Jigsaw Jam. Partnership with Emporia Main Street and Trox Gallery.
Artwork from the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Art Show in partnership with HOTT.
Artwork from the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Art Show in partnership with HOTT.
Opening night of Onyx Art and Culture Showcase during Emporia First Friday Art Walk.
Opening night of Onyx Art and Culture Showcase during Emporia First Friday Art Walk.
Emporia Community Flute Choir performs on the first floor.
Emporia Community Flute Choir performs on the first floor.
Unbound Gravel brings thousands of bike riders to the area and they all come through LCHC.
Unbound Gravel brings thousands of bike riders to the area and they all come through LCHC.
Unbound Gravel bike race packet pick up on the third floor of LCHC.
Unbound Gravel bike race packet pick up on the third floor of LCHC.
Parade viewing during the annual donor/member/volunteer Christmas Party.
Parade viewing during the annual donor/member/volunteer Christmas Party.
Making community connections one event at a time.
Making community connections one event at a time.
Rent the third floor for your next event!
Rent the third floor for your next event!

Contact

711 Commercial Street
Emporia, KS 66801
Phone: (620) 340-6310

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