Douglas County museums have earned a grant that will support an exhibition to be displayed across six historic sites throughout the county.
Douglas County Heritage Partner organizations on Thursday received an $8,000 check from the Kansas Tourism Marketing Grant Program.
The grant will help them promote a collaborative exhibition project called “Finding Freedom: The Promise of 1776 in Douglas County, Kansas,” in celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary.
Partners include the Watkins Museum of History, Eudora Community Museum, Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum, Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County, Territorial Capital Museum and Constitution Hall in Lecompton.
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“Each host site will display a different ‘chapter’ of the exhibition which will explore how the people of Douglas County secured the freedoms promised in the Declaration of Independence,” according to the Watkins Museum.
The project will be on display May through August 2026, according to a letter Sen. Marci Francisco wrote in support. That coincides with the World Cup.
“Robust exhibition promotion is likely the best way to assure this project’s success during a time when northeastern Kansas will see an influx of international tourism,” Francisco wrote.
Another Douglas County organization, Save Our Soils Kaw Valley Foundation, was awarded a $2,000 grant. The foundation could not immediately be reached for more information Friday.
The grants are part of $100,000 total awarded to organizations statewide from Kansas Commerce. See a full list of recipients at this link.
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
