Local history
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Federal cuts raise challenges for Watkins Museum, Humanities Kansas
A $250,000 grant for the Watkins Museum to expand exhibits on local Indigenous history is in limbo and a Lawrence event honoring veterans will be canceled amid federal cuts to humanities programs.
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KU students to pay homage to ‘Honk for Hemp’ activist, old wren sculptures in new Watkins Museum exhibitions
KU museum studies students will soon debut new exhibitions at the Watkins Museum telling the stories of two legendary Lawrence figures.

Watson Library’s centennial celebration to culminate with time capsule
Watson Library at KU is turning 100 this year, and staff will wrap up centennial celebrations by archiving a time capsule to be opened in 2124.

Haskell regents, professor call for radar search of development site for unmarked graves
The board of regents of Haskell Indian Nations University and a prominent Indigenous studies professor urge developers of the proposed New Boston Crossing to search the site for children who could be buried in unmarked graves.

Barn Fest to spotlight historic farmsteads of Douglas County
An upcoming two-day event will offer community members a chance to learn about and tour historic farmsteads of Douglas County.

Watkins Museum, turning 50 soon, to seek community feedback through town hall
The Watkins Museum of History, founded in 1975, will soon celebrate its 50th anniversary. Its staff members want to hear from the community as they imagine the museum’s future.

Smithsonian exhibit coming to Kansas, starting at Haskell Cultural Center and Museum
Haskell’s Cultural Center and Museum will be the first Kansas site to host a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that ”uncovers the many ways American Indian images, names, and stories have been part of the nation’s identity.”

Descendant of Native American boarding school survivors advocates for truth, healing, justice
Deidre Whiteman, a Haskell alum with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, reflected Monday on family history and her work to find healing and justice for boarding school survivors.

Watkins Museum exhibit, film screening and more will commemorate The Merc’s 50-year history
Lawrence’s community-owned cooperative grocery store, The Merc Co+op, is turning 50 and the public is invited to mark the milestone with a Watkins Museum exhibit and more.

Lawrence’s Historic Resources Commission votes in favor of Sacred Red Rock markers
Following a successful effort to rematriate the Sacred Red Rock with the Kaw people, the Historic Resources Commission has recommended approval of markers for the Lawrence park where the boulder was misappropriated for nearly a century.
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