Specific Need
We are storytellers. We tell the stories of Lyon County, Kansas history and culture by using artifacts and archival materials. Funds from the Emporia Community Foundation Match Day will go toward collections management and conservation, educational programs, Loretto Langley kids' area and exhibits.
History doesn's change, but how we share it does. Here are a few of the projects currently in progress:
- Create walking, biking and driving history tours
- Develop a themed activity booklet based on Lyon County history and culture
- Coordinate events for the public such as workshops, tours, performances and outreach presentations
- Create rotating themes and activities for the Loretto Langley Exploratorium
- Add interactive exhibit components to second floor exhibit hall and rotate artifacts, photos and labels.
- Temporary exhibit fabrication
- Update archival finding aids
- Digitize archival materials
Who will tell your story?
Mission
Mission
Our mission is to save and share the diverse history and culture of Lyon County, Kansas and welcome all to experience stories that will inspire connections, ignite conversations and instill community pride.
Vision
We envision history and culture to be at the center of discovery, engagement and change.
Profile
In 1937, a group of Lyon County residents and members from the Emporia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution joined forces to save the historical and cultural stories and relics of Lyon County, Kansas. Since that first meeting in 1937, our organization has evolved into a community minded entity with partnerships throughout Lyon County and beyond.
The Lyon County Historical Society owns and operates the Lyon County History Center and the Richard Howe House. Currently, LCHS/LCHC is the only Lyon County organization that saves and shares the history and culture of all of Lyon County.
We offer the following services to help connect individuals and groups to history and culture:
- Historical preservation consulting
- Historical and cultural research
- Archival and artifact conservation
- History and culture related workshops - genealogy, family heriloom care, historic property research
- Facility rentals
- Educational programming for patrons of all ages
- Outreach and tours
- Exhibit fabrication on and off-site
- A hands-on kids' area - Loretto Langley Exploratorium
- Operating a collections repository for tangible objects