Moore Family Toy Santa Collection
In the lobby of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, from the Wreath Festival through the New Year, visitors will find the Moore Family Santa Dolls on display. As a yearly tradition that’s continued for the last 17 years, the Museum has exhibited a small selection of the Moores’ collection —
Thrift Finds: Thrifted Treasures from the Museum’s Collection
Thrift Finds: Thrifted Treasures from the Museum’s Collection Museums acquire objects in many ways, including purchases from thrift stores. Thrift stores sell donated used or second-hand items to the public at moderate prices, often as a way to support charitable organizations or causes. By promoting green practices, encouraging the re-use
Thrift Style
Thrift Style explores the reuse of feed sacks to make clothing and other household objects and illuminates how the “upcycling” of these bags mutually benefitted twentieth-century consumers and businesses. With forty-one works from patterns to garments, it serves as an example of past ingenuity that can inform today’s efforts towards
Small Expressions
Small Expressions is an annual juried exhibition showcasing contemporary small-scale works using fiber techniques in any media. Small in scale but visually compelling, HGA’s Small Expressions exhibit features work that speaks to the intricacy of expression, intimacy of design, thoughtful communication, and visual excitement. The artists in this exhibit create
Being Modern
This exhibition follows (and is directly patterned after) the Museum’s previous exhibit Art Deco on the Plains. It takes the timeline forward to explore modern design experienced locally in the 1950s and 1960s. The exhibition is a feature of the Lois Kay Walls Local Visual Art History Series. Wichitans desired
Thunderbolt Sirens
We hear them every Monday at noon but fear them if sounded during stormy weather when tornados threaten our community. The Thunderbolt Sirens have a rich history and are being celebrated this weekend including a special exhibit at the Historical Museum opening this Sunday. The Sirens were originally installed in
Why We Collect What We Collect
The Museum’s mission involves collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts of significance to our local history. Beginning with a donation from the Pioneer Society of Sedgwick County in 1939, the Museum has added over 70,000 artifacts including photographs and archival material to its permanent collection. The collection plan organizes artifacts by
Art Deco on the Plains
This special exhibit explores Art Deco design locally. The term Art Deco, popularized in the 1960s, applies to the predominant decorative art and design style that visually defined an era encompassing the Roaring 1920s – known for its post-war exuberance, decadence, and prohibition – through the 1930s – remembered for
Turn It Up to 90! – The Electric Guitar and the 90th Anniversary of its Wichita World Debut
This special exhibit, featuring dozens of historic electric guitars and, explores Wichita’s connection to the most popular musical instrument of our time. The Museum has researched this subject since 2002, producing several well-received exhibits, revealing Wichita’s unique place in the instrument’s history. Visitors will also see the electric guitars from
The Parking Meter
History museum exhibits often encourage exploring the familiar by viewing it through the lens of the past.The parking meter struck us as an obvious artifact to examine. It is typically the last thing encountered by visitors before they walk through our doors. As more and more cars packed city