Marshall County Historical Society

Visited on: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Cost: Free

Nestled in the heart of Marysville, Kansas, the Marshall County Historical Society Museum is a treasure trove of local history, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the stories that shaped this vibrant community.

From its rich pioneer heritage to its role as a vital stop on the Pony Express route, the museum showcases artifacts, photographs, and exhibits that bring the past to life. 

Red brick, multi-story historic building with a turret and arched windows, surrounded by green and red foliage. In the foreground, a pinkish stone displays an engraved emblem and text. Leafy trees frame the scene.
The image shows the interior of a building with a staircase leading up to a well-lit entrance. The hallway has tiled floors and white brick walls. There are signs for "Concert Confirmation" and a "Museum Gift Shop." Decorative black iron railings are on either side of the steps.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I headed into this museum. I was honestly impressed far more than I expected by how well this museum was laid out, how well the artifacts were organized, and how interesting this place was.

Three vintage wooden pump organs are lined up against a wall with sheet music displayed on top. Each organ features intricate woodwork and ornate details. A patterned tile floor and a small cushioned stool are in front of the organs. A window is partially visible above them.
An antique wooden organ with ornate carvings is displayed against a wall. Sheet music and records, including "Hush-A-Bye," rest on top. A vintage suitcase filled with documents is on the left. A small wooden stool with more papers is on the right. Black-and-white photos adorn the wall.
A vintage wooden upright piano with sheet music open on the music stand. On top of the piano are an old typewriter and various antique items. To the left is a black phonograph horn. A green cushioned stool is in front of the piano on a tiled floor.
A museum display featuring World War I memorabilia, including military uniforms, framed photos, and documents. A large banner reads "Marshall County Barracks No. 3183, Veterans of World War I, U.S.A." An American flag stands in the corner, and a wooden railing encloses the exhibit.
A wall display titled "WWII Frankfort Boys" lists names of individuals who served in various locations, including France, Belgium, and the Pacific. The display includes service dates and military branches, with emblems for different military divisions. The background is a beige wall.
A museum exhibit features military uniforms and memorabilia. A U.S. Air Force uniform and other attire are displayed behind a wooden fence. A Nazi flag and Japanese rising sun flag hang on the wall. An American flag stands in the corner alongside display cases and posters.
The image shows a display about WPA "All Nations Figurines" from the late 1930s to 1941. It explains their creation by seamstresses and workers, noting the diverse cultural representations. The figurines were handmade, painted, and carried national flags. Price was about $1 each.
A display case holds a collection of small dolls dressed in traditional folk costumes from various countries. Each doll wears unique, colorful attire representative of different cultural heritages. The backdrop includes informational panels and photographs.
A display with a printed description about a schoolroom. It mentions desks from the Blancville School, textbooks from Kansas, and lunch pails used as cooler cups after syrup containers. Furnished by Betty J. Bell, it highlights adaptations after a drinking cup ban.
A vintage classroom with wooden desks and benches arranged in rows. A piano is to the left, topped with books and a small American flag. There's a map on the right wall and an old portrait above a radiator. Large windows with sheer curtains let in natural light.
A vintage classroom with wooden desks and chairs arranged in rows. A teacher's desk at the front holds books, a globe, and an apple. Large windows let in natural light, and a map of North America hangs on the back wall alongside a radiator. The room has a hardwood floor.
A vintage classroom with wooden desks and benches facing a teacher's desk. Behind the desk, there's a bookshelf filled with books. A chalkboard is on the left, and a globe is on the teacher's desk. The room has wooden floors and a piano on the right. Soft light filters through windows.
A colorful historical map titled "Distribution of Indian Families and Tribes" showing various indigenous groups across the United States. Regions are in different colors, with a legend detailing tribe names. The map includes the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and a portion of Alaska.
A vintage room with wooden floors features two small wooden shelves. The left shelf holds a large, white enamel water dispenser and several metal mugs. The right shelf has various metal containers, a glass dish, and boxes. A window above the shelves has clear glass bottles on its sill.
A sign titled "1920s Era Living Room" lists vintage items. It describes a dualfold sofa, a china cabinet made from a tin can flower, a wind-up Victrola, a mule-powered home pump organ, sea shell decor, an early vacuum cleaner without electricity, and two wall-mounted telephones.
A cozy vintage room with wooden flooring features a piano on the left, a small table with an open book, a wooden cabinet with glass doors, and an armchair with pillows. Lace curtains adorn the windows, and there are historical artifacts and photos on display throughout.
A document titled "KITCHEN" lists uses for the kitchen table: food preparation, folding clothes, washing dishes, bathing babies, doing school work, playing games, and dining. Additional text describes household items and chores involving a sad iron, pleater, and rug beaters.
A vintage kitchen scene with a wooden dining table set for four, featuring patterned plates and utensils. Surrounding the table are wooden chairs. The room includes an open hutch displaying various dishes, a stove with pots, and rustic kitchenware, set on a brown woven rug.
A vintage laundry setup includes a washboard in a metal tub, a wringer, and clothes drying on a wooden rack against a textured wall. Long garments, soaps, and brushes are also visible, evoking a historical washing scene.
A vintage kitchen scene with a wooden dining table and chairs on a braided rug. The table is set with a checkered cloth, dishes, and a glass oil lamp. A cabinet displaying crockery is in the corner. A stove with pots and a radiator sits beneath a large window, creating a cozy atmosphere.
A display room with vintage clothing. Mannequins wear historical dresses and a tuxedo. A wooden rail borders the area. Framed photo artwork is displayed; shelves hold old-fashioned crockery. The room has cream walls and large windows covered with white curtains. A stand holds a descriptive plaque.
A museum exhibit showcasing vintage fashion features mannequins dressed in early 20th-century bridal and formal wear. Display cases contain accessories like jewelry and gloves. Hats are visible on shelves in the background, and framed photos are displayed on tables alongside the mannequins.
A vintage sewing machine displayed on a wooden platform with foot pedals. The surface has an open compartment containing sewing supplies like thread spools. A small sign on the top explains details about the machine's history. The floor is wooden, matching the machine's table.
A wooden spinning wheel displayed in a glass case alongside a plaid cloth, carding tools, a spindle, and a stool with a white cloth draped over it. The case sits on a polished wood floor, and informative labels accompany each object.
A wooden loom stands in the center of a room with hardwood floors. Sunlight streams through a window on the left. A colorful, abstract quilt hangs on the back wall. On the right, a table holds various textiles, a barrel, and a sign reading "Quilt Room.
A vintage room featuring a large wooden spinning wheel with yarn, a wooden cabinet with many small drawers adorned with doilies, and an antique sewing machine on a table with a quilt in progress. The room has wooden floors and soft lighting, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
A wooden table displays various vintage quilt squares with floral and patchwork patterns. A dark, intricate quilt hangs on the wall above. Informational signs and a vintage sewing machine are also present. The floor is light wood, and the setting has a museum or exhibit feel.
A colorful patchwork quilt hangs on a wall, featuring square blocks with a variety of patterns like checks, stripes, and florals. Each block is bordered in yellow fabric and labeled with different names and locations. A partially visible hanging quilt with a circular pattern is nearby.
A colorful quilt displayed on a stand features a patchwork of rectangular patterns with various images, mostly of children and hearts, in red, white, and black tones. A framed newspaper article is on the wall behind. A purple ribbon is attached to the quilt's side.
A display of five intricate quilts, each with unique patterns and designs, hangs in a room with informational plaques. The quilts feature historical themes, geometric patterns, and embroidery. The floor is a mosaic of brown and beige tiles.
The image shows a display of quilts hanging on a wall and draped over furniture in a room with patterned flooring. The quilts feature various designs, including stars, pinwheels, and hexagons in red, blue, and multicolored patterns. Small labels are visible beneath each quilt.
A room displays vintage quilts. In the foreground, a quilt with circular patterns is draped over a stand. To the left, a yellow quilt hangs. The back wall showcases a red quilt with white squares. A dress form and a third quilt with text are also visible on the parquet floor.

The original courtroom was also preserved and on display.

A historic courtroom with wooden benches, an ornate judge's bench, and an American flag to the side. The room features high ceilings, soft lighting from hanging fixtures, and large windows with stained glass along the right wall, creating a formal and classic atmosphere.
Image of a vintage courtroom featuring a wooden judge's bench with elaborate carvings. An American flag stands in the corner. A witness stand is attached to the judge's bench, and there are old photographs and papers on the desk. The room has neutral-colored walls with wood paneling.
A wooden table with a vintage portable fingerprinting kit, including a black case and papers, is set in a room with a wooden chair. An informational card on the table describes the kit. A dark, quilted object is partially visible in the background.
A wooden bookshelf with three shelves is filled with uniformly bound books. The books have beige covers and dark labels on their spines. The shelves are neatly arranged, and the bookshelf is placed against a cream-colored wall next to a wooden door.

For me, the most interesting part of this museum was the medical displays. 

Vintage medical examination room with various equipment. Includes an examination table, dental chair, and several old medical devices. Posters and informational boards decorate the walls. The room has a retro feel, reflecting medical practices from the early to mid-20th century.

Until this point in my life, I had only seen pictures of an iron lung. I wasn’t emotionally prepared when I saw the green canister that was designed for children with polio.

A vintage iron lung machine, teal in color, stands on caster wheels. It features observation windows, gauges, and control knobs. The machine is positioned on a textured linoleum floor, with informational placards and signage in the background.
A vintage iron lung with a cylindrical metal body and a round window at the end. It has adjustable knobs on its front and is mounted on wheels for mobility. The machine is positioned in a room with a white wall and a patterned tile floor.
Interior of an old iron lung, showing a bed with cream-colored sheets. The cylindrical device has a series of circular openings along the side walls. The interior appears aged with visible wear and rust on the metal surfaces. The ceiling is segmented by metal strips.
A vintage teal medical machine with a large label displaying "Directions for Operating The Collins-Duplex Respirator." The text includes an illustration of the device's parts and instructions for use. A coiled black hose is visible beneath the label. The label shows signs of wear.
A wooden display cabinet with glass doors houses various vintage medical instruments and books. The shelves hold items like test tubes, a framed photo, books, medications, and surgical tools, including scalpels and razors. A certificate and analog medical device are also visible.

The photography printing exhibits were also fascinating.

A museum exhibit displaying vintage photographic equipment, including large cameras on stands and a film developing apparatus. Black-and-white photos in frames hang on cream-colored walls. Some informational plaques accompany the equipment and photographs. A wooden door is visible in the background.
A vintage Linotype machine in a museum setting, surrounded by framed photos on yellow walls. A wooden chair sits in front of the machine, while informational placards are displayed nearby. The room features various pieces of printing equipment and a small window on the right.
A vintage linotype machine with intricate gears and levers stands in a room with framed photos on the walls. A red belt is prominent in its mechanism. Nearby, an old wooden desk and typewriter labeled "ADVOCATE" are visible, hinting at a historical printing or newspaper setting.
An antique printing press stands in a room with yellow walls and a window with white curtains. It features large metal wheels, a wooden operating surface, and intricate metal components. A small informational sign is placed on the wooden panel above the press mechanism.
A vintage fan is displayed between two rows of bright lights in a well-lit room with walls adorned with framed pictures. The setup suggests an exhibit or a studio environment. The floor is tiled, and a wooden stand is visible in the background.
A large vintage camera mounted on a metal stand, featuring a bellows mechanism and a ground glass focusing screen. The setup includes a wooden platform and a sign explaining its historical use. Framed black-and-white photos hang on cream-colored walls in the background.
An antique, rusted machine with gears and wheels stands on a wooden base. The machine features a slanted metal surface and appears mechanical with numerous belts and pulleys. It's placed indoors against a peeling wall, with a small sign situated on its left side.
Close-up of a vintage film projector, showcasing its intricate gears, lenses, and metal components. The machinery has a rustic, worn appearance. In the background, parts of a theater poster are partially visible, adding a touch of nostalgia.

As much of Kansas was Homestead there had to be some exhibits related to the farm.

A rustic exhibit displays vintage farm tools against wooden slats, including a red corn sheller, wooden bucket with corn, old bags, photos, and iron tools hung on the wall. The scene evokes a nostalgic rural setting, with tools arranged on the floor and walls.
A rustic exhibit features a vintage pedal-powered grinding wheel with a red frame, surrounded by wooden shelves displaying old books, certificates, and letters. A table holds a manual drill, horseshoes, and lanterns. The backdrop is weathered wood paneling.
A vintage wooden lathe with a large, worn wheel on the left stands on a workshop floor. The lathe is secured between two wooden frames with a pegboard wall in the background. The setup is surrounded by wooden furniture, exuding an antique workshop ambiance.
A display of model farm buildings on a table with a floral tablecloth. Above, a vintage sign reads, "Buy Your Chicks of the Matelyak Chickeries, Frankfort, Kansas." The models include barns and a windmill, accompanied by small descriptive cards. A lamp and wastebasket are nearby.
Upward view of a red brick building with ornate architectural details, featuring a tall central spire. The facade displays "Marshall Co." carved in stone above large columns. Windows line each floor, and autumn leaves are visible in the top right corner against an overcast sky.
A historic red brick building with a slate-roofed turret stands beside a sidewalk. The facade features ornate detailing and rows of windows. Trees with autumn foliage and a small landscaped area with shrubs and a large rock decorate the foreground on an overcast day.
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