Tonganoxie Community Historical Society
A on the Farm Tour Map
201 W Washington Street, Tonganoxie
Managed By: Janet Burnett, Vice-President & Kris Roberts, President
TonganoxieHistoricalSociety.org
Facebook: @TonganoxieCommunityHistoricalSociety
The TCHS historical site is situated on ten acres of land in southwestern Tonganoxie. The museum is housed in a 1932 Milking Parlor and Hay Barn on a dairy farm that was established in the mid-1880s. Displays include a milking stall and farm tools, as well as the history of the Tonganoxie community, which was touted as the Dairy Capital of Kansas in 1949
A natural spring is located just south of the milking parlor and displays there talk about springs and their importance to early life in this area.
Our one room schoolhouse, Honey Valley District #56, has been restored to its1920-era appearance. The schoolhouse includes details on 27 other one room schools in southern Leavenworth County, most of which are now a part of Tonganoxie USD #464.
In 1993, the Reno Methodist Church was moved to the museum site. This 1918 church is maintained and currently serves as a church to two congregations meeting on Saturday and Sunday mornings as well as a museum artifact.
A restored 1936 US Army fire pumper truck which was an integral part of the Tonganoxie Volunteer Fire Department in the 1950s is also on display.
The Tonganoxie Community Historical Society was founded in 1981 to preserve the history of the Tonganoxie community and to assure that the history be shared with all who are interested. In addition to operating a museum, which opened in 2003, we offer: programs of a historical nature seven months out of the year; two barn quilt workshops each year; an annual chili supper; a biscuits & gravy breakfast on Memorial Day; an annual history camp for youth entering grades 4, 5, and 6; an annual field trip for USD #464 third graders; and other special programs.
Docents will ensure that visitors receive a self-directed tour brochure and answer any questions as visitors may have.
Visitors will be able to take advantage of self-guided tours. Experienced docents will answer questions. The dairy exhibit includes the history of creameries in Tonganoxie. The one room school is an excellent exhibit that allows visitors to truly imagine what country education would have been like in Kansas from the 1850s through the 1950s. One room schools were the center of farming communities and very important to the people who lived near them.
Kids: We will have several old-time games out for children to play with, including jump ropes, jacks, and one-legged milking stools to try out.
This year, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we will have on display Moments that Made US, a special exhibit about the Declaration of Independence, alongside an exhibit marking the ninth anniversary of a local movement, No Tyson in Tongie.
