A program that offers a look into the history of Southeast Kansas returns to Allen County.
The Southeast Kansas (SEK) Museum Alliance is launching its 2024 Museum Passport program. The goal is to encourage visitors to stop at museums and visitor centers across the region.
The free passport is available at participating Southeast Kansas Museum Alliance museums, including the Allen County Historical Society Museum in Iola.
The Museum Passport looks like an actual passport and gives information on each of the 49 participating museums and historical sites in Southeast Kansas. The passport contains a map that shows the location of each museum and historical site and is designed so the visitor can plan an adventure into the history of southeast Kansas.
Each location is listed alphabetically, giving the address, phone number, hours of operation, and a picture of the site. If you happen to be visiting outside of the normal hours, give the site a call to see if a private tour is available. When visiting a museum, art gallery, or historical site, make sure to have your Passport “stamped.” Challenge friends and family to collect stamped pages.
The passport program, initiated in 2021, quickly asserted its worth to Kansas and other travelers who wanted a quality trip on a small budget. Because of its popularity, the program was rejuvenated this year, adding more museums to the passport as worthy destination points.
This handy little guide makes a great daytrip planner and an excellent tool for planning a family weekend. Flip through the pages and discover the uniqueness of southeast Kansas’ many museums. Discover how early Native Americans lived in Southeast Kansas and how early settlers migrated from eastern states to establish farms and engaged in ranching and mining. Learn more about the interesting people who forged this part of Kansas.
For more information about SEK Museums and the passport visit www.sekmuseums.org or www.facebook.com/SEKMuseumAlliance.
