The Territorial Capital Museum
C on the Farm Tour Map
640 Woodson Ave., Lecompton
Managed by: Paul Bahnmaier, The Lecompton Historical Society
Facebook: @Historic Lecompton
The Territorial Capital Museum is dedicated to educating the public about the history of Territorial Kansas and it's capital Lecompton and their role in the important events that occurred during The Bleeding Kansas era, 1854 - 1861, considered to be the prelude to the Civil War.The museum offers exhibits on Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War including artifacts from both events. The early history of Lecompton is displayed with exhibits depicting early life in Lecompton.The museum is located in the former Lane University building, named after James Lane, an important territorial figure who helped launch the fight for Kansas to be a free state. In 1884, President Eisenhower's parents, Ida Stauffer and David Eisenhower, met as students at Lane University and were married in Lane University's chapel.
One floor of the museum is dedicated to early life as farmers and homesteaders. A 500 piece barbed wire display is housed in the museum. The Farm Room includes many hand tools and gadgets related to early faming practices. Just to name a few, a corn shucking machine, a chicken decapitator, various hand plowing and threshing devices are on display. Items from the home front are also available to view and operate such as numerous butter churns, early manual washing machines and scrub boards.
Kid-Friendly Activities:
Children will be able to operate several items in the Farm Room and hear the player piano at the museum. Old toy collections are displayed in the museum and can be viewed, including a doll collection and beautiful Victorian era doll house. Stereoscopes are scattered throughout the museum and available to view.