Some Examples of displays in our museum
World's Smallest Presidential Library
World's Smallest Presidential Library
The David Rice Atchison World's Smallest "unofficial" Presidential Library is a special exhibit in our museum where you make the decisions. Our County and the City of Atchison are named for this 24-hour-President and you should know why he was a key player in the early days of the Kansas Territory and the era of Bleeding Kansas. The exhibit gives you two sides to questions and you decide...was David Rice Atchison a peacemaker or a border ruffian? Was he the Real 12th President or just the Senator next in line?
Exhibits
World's Smallest Presidential Library
We have some people we'd like to introduce you to:
Lewis and Clark, Jesse Stone, Joe Tinker, Pardee Butler, Oscar "Heavy" Johnson, Fred Stein...and the list continues.
Educational opportunity
Explore the treasures that breathe life into the stories of our corner of the world. No matter the age of your students, home school or family group there will be something we can supply to bring history to life. All Atchison County Schools and Educational groups may book tours or programs - it's part of our mission to serve Atchison County youth. We have special tours for pre-K, K-12, college and adult groups.
The Collection
Our collection is varied and diverse - just like the region and historical events we are charged with preserving. As we compile more content for our new and expanded website and as we progress through moving our existing catalog and old - non-computerized- artifact catalogues to a new system - we will share information here.
NEW AND unique items
NEW AND unique items
We are continually working with our inventory and finding items never displayed. Rotating exhibits are being added and changed frequently. If you haven't been in the museum for over a couple years, you need to visit again.
Walter Yost Exhibit
NEW AND unique items
The Atchison County Historical Society has been fortunate to be given several works of art by Walter Yost as well as his work desk and many other artifacts from his studio and personal collection.
Walter taught and worked in our area and is famous for his artistic abilities as well as his amiable personality.
We are proud to be able to display these items.
Governor Glick Statue
Governor Glick Statue
George Washington Glick was born in Greencastle Ohio, July 4th, 1827. George Washington Glick enter law when he was 21 years old at the office of Buckland and Hayes (As in President Rutherford B. Hayes) At 23, Glick was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati. Soon thereafter, he moved from Fremont, Ohio, to Atchison Kansas where he began working in law in 1859. Glick partnered with Alfred G. Otis, grandfather of Amelia Earhart, to create a law office.
During the Kansas and Missouri border conflicts of the mid-1800s, Glick fought in the 2nd Kansas Regiment under Colonel Quigg. At the battle of the Big Blue, he was wounded.
He was inaugurated January 8th, 1883 as the 9th Governor of Kansas and the first to be elected from the Democrat Party.
Governor Glick died in his home April 13, 1911, and was buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery.
This statue once graced the Statuary Hall in the US Capital Building as a respresentative of the State of Kansas.
Atchison Colleges
Governor Glick Statue
This exhibit features the four colleges that existed in Atchison in the early days. One is still here. Benedictine College has again been named to the Top 10 in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of “America’s Best Colleges,” moving up from #8 to #6 in the Midwest. The rankings, published by U.S. News Media Group, list 94 colleges in the Midwest Division of Best Regional Colleges. Benedictine College has been a U.S. News “Best College” since 2007 and is currently the highest ranked Catholic college in the division and the highest ranked college or university in Kansas. U.S. News & World Report also lists Benedictine College at #3 in the Midwest for Undergraduate Education as well as a Best Value school. The complete rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges.
Military Exhibit
Perhaps the best display of military weaponry and related items in the entire state. Over one hundred guns of all types, sabers, swords, bayonets and other was war time memoribilia are on display. They span the time period from the revoluntionary war to World War II.
Who was the father of Rock n' roll?
This exhibit is dedicated to Jesse Stone, a local boy, that had an everlasting impact on the world of music. Jesse is in the Rock N' Roll Hal of Fame. His song "Shake,. Rattle and Roll" inspired the Rock N' Roll genre.
railroads in atchison
Birthplace of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, railroads were an important part of the development of Atchison and the whole Stateof Kansas. This exhibit is full of railroad items.
fire fighting
We have a large display of fire fighting equipment. Most noteable is the 1898 ladder truck purchased in the same year by the city. It was a horse driven machine that was later converted to be used by a gas powered truck.