I chose to visit the Watkins Community Museum of History here in Lawrence Kansas, located on Massachusetts Street. I enjoyed the museum and thought it was very informational because it provided artifacts and basic history of Kansas throughout the years. A pamphlet I received when I came in the entrance of Watkins provides background information on the building itself. The building was built between 1886 and 1888 by Jabez Bunting Watkins. The Watkins building is sectioned off into three different levels. When it was first built the first floor was used for offices of lawyers and civic groups. Watkins National Bank was located on the second floor of the building; the third floor was Jabez Bunting Watkins business, The Watkins Land Mortgage Company. Today the Watkins building is a museum, holding the history of Kansas. The first and second floors are open for the public to view a broad spectrum of Kansas’s history. Certain exhibits of the museum I enjoyed were the Glass cases that held random, old belongings, clothing, and tools. There were several maps of the state of Kansas and larger exhibits that make the state of Kansas known. For instance, the information provided on Phog Allen, the father of basketball and coaching. They had a whole section dedicated to Phog Allen’s life and his work in basketball. I found this interesting because the University of Kansas is well-known for basketball and in the museum they had a piece of the first basketball court. Along with the exhibit of Phog Allen, the museum had a section for the Naismith Family. Providing, the story of James Naismith’s invention of basketball. Another exhibit that caught my attention was the Milburn electric automobile. I found this exhibit neat because it had a letter from the actual owner stating personal memories with the car. One exhibit portrayed information of Langston Hughes achievements and overall life. There was also a Langston Hughes Statue, which in a way I thought was relevant to me. Because I have been doing volunteering for Langston Hughes Elementary School and now I know the history of the School’s name. The final exhibit that I really enjoyed was the Van Hoesen Playhouse from the 1880’s. The playhouse was a remodeled version of the playhouse Isaac Newton Van Hoesen built back in 1878 for his daughters. This exhibit allows children to interact a little more within the museum and be able to play in the playhouse making Kansas history fun.
*All Information was provided from the Watkins Community Museum of History.
-By Brittany Ross
Nice job Brittany! I am glad that you found exhibits that interested you.