Geary County Museum & Historical Society

The museum served as a high school from 1904 to 1929. From 1930 until the late 1960s the building housed all the sixth grades in the city as a Departmental School. The administration offices were also located in the building. In the 1940s, kindergarten classes were started in the basement level and during the 1970s, the building housed "Continuing Education" and "Head Start" programs.

After the building was vacated by the school district in the 1970s, it was purchased by Junction City philanthropist, Fred Bramlage, and donated to the historical society in 1982 as a permanent home for the museum. Society volunteers labored over a year to get the main floor ready for use and in May 1983, the Geary County Historical Society opened its doors. In the years since, over a half million dollars have been raised from within the community and used to restore the entire building and develop the museum and its programs.

SERVICES:

The museum offers the following services:

The Jeffries Research Center: The research center serves as a depository for family and community histories and contains records for genealogical and historical research. Local newspapers dating from the 1860s and an extensive collection of vintage photographs are on file here. A microfilm reader/printer gives access to county records and newspapers. A volunteer staff provides research assistance.

Gift Shop: An attractive gift shop features locally hand-crafted merchandise and is open on the main level during museum hours.

Docents: Docents, authentically costumed as turn of the century school teachers, conduct prearranged tours for groups of any size.

Museum Speakers Bureau: The museum speakers bureau offers programs on a variety of historical topics to schools and other community groups.

Traveling Trunks: Traveling trunks accompanied by costumed docents carry artifact-illustrated programs to school classes and adult groups.

Living History: Living history craft demonstrations, art exhibitions, reenactments, lectures and special programs are periodically presented at the museum

Auditorium/Meeting Room: An auditorium or meeting room is available for group functions, programs, and banquets. Seating capacity is approximately 125.

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