The Allen County Historical Society is headquartered at the Allen County Museum in Iola, Kansas, a community of approximately 6,000 people.  The Society was formed in 1956 in a burst of enthusiasm that carried over from the Allen County Centennial Celebration of 1955 and has since grown to one of the best local historical societies in all of Kansas.  

When the county government gained approval from its citizens to tear down the historic old courthouse and construct a new building on the Iola city square in 1959, the Allen County Historical Society tried unsuccessfully to save this historic structure.  However, when the new courthouse was complete, the County Government set aside a special Museum Room dedicated to Allen County historical exhibits.  This arrangement continued until the late 1990’s when the museum room was closed and replaced by the drivers’ license station.  By that time the Historical Society had additional museums and the courthouse room was no longer needed to display the county’s history.

Although the Society failed to attract enough support to save the old courthouse, ongoing efforts to tear down the Old Jail sparked a public interest to preserve that building.  Through the efforts of the historical society to preserve the Old Jail building, a majority of the citizens were supportive of the cause.  Thus, in 1959, a special action of the Kansas Legislature made it possible for the Allen County commissioners to deed the jail to the historical society.  After restorative and repair work was completed, the Old Jail Museum was opened to the public on May 20, 1962 and in its first month had 1,677 visitors from 29 states. A contract with the county was signed in 1965 whereby the Allen County Historical Society was made the official Curator of the Allen County Historical Collection.  The Old Jail was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

In 1979, the Allen County Historical Society received a deed to a new museum building from the county.  Located next to the Old Jail Museum, this building became known as the Gallery Museum and housed the Society's main exhibits on Allen County history. This building was enlarged in 1987, which provided additional gallery space and storage room for the Society's growing collection.

In 1994, a special act of the Kansas State Legislature transfered ownership of the historic Boyhood Home of Major General Frederick Funston and its contents from the state of Kansas to two members of the Funston family who in turn transferred ownership to the Allen County Historical Society.  The Society then moved the home from its original site north of Iola to the west side of the Iola town square and restoration work began in earnest.  The home was opened to the public on June 17, 1995 and shortly thereafter construction on the Funston Museum began.  The Funston Museum opened on June 22, 1997.

The completion of the Funston Museum Complex inspired an anonymous donation that allowed the Society to purchase the building currently serving as the headquarters for the Allen County Historical Society in 2000.  After five years of work and the assistance of a $249,450 Economic Initiative Development Grant, the Allen County History Museum opened to the public on July 3, 2005.

The Allen County Historical Society currently owns and operates all five buildings described above, four of which are open to the public.  Our tremendous growth, from one museum room in the courthouse, to the operation of five buildings was only made possible through the dedication of our members and the unfailing support of the community.  We hope you come enjoy all that our museums have to offer on the history of Allen County.

About our supporters...

EXHIBIT WINDOW	SPONSOR(s)
City of Iola	Community National Bank of Iola
Cities of Savonburg & Elsmore	Community National Bank of Humboldt
Allen County Banking	Great Southern Bank, Iola
General Store	The Iola Pharmacy, Inc.
City of Humboldt	Personal Service Insurance, Humboldt
Allen County Gas Boom	The Iola Rotary Club
Territorial Kansas	Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips, PA, Iola
Cities of LaHarpe and Moran	The LaHarpe Telephone Co., Inc. & Dieboldt Lumber & Supply Inc., LaHarpe
Old Farm Implments and Tools	J and J Accounting, Humboldt, & Thompson Auction, Iola
Rural Schools	Iola Insurance Associates
The Civil War	John McRae State Farm, Iola
Gas City, Mildred, Bayard, Petrolia, Leanna, Concreto	Twin Motors Ford, Inc., Iola
Native American Indians	Leon & Ardith Harris, Iola, In Memory of their son Stuart
Cities of Cofachique, Carlyle, and Geneva	MDR Insurance
Quilts	Wal-Mart, Iola
African-American History	Sonic Equipment Co.
Computer Kiosk	Allen County Community College
Famous Allen Countians - Plus One	Sonic Drive-In of Iola
Interior Window (Rotating Exhibit)	Monarch Cement Company, Humboldt
Allen County and the Wars	Jim Talkington Shelter Insurance, Iola
South Street Window (Rotating Exhibit)	Take Charge Challenge, Iola
Zebulon Pike	Windsor Place - Iola

EXHIBIT WINDOWS YET TO BE SPONSORED

• Allen County China Display
• North Front Window (Rotating Exhibit)
• Post-Civil War Display
• The Iola Button Factory

If your business or family would like to be an exhibit sponsor, please contact Jeff Kluever at 620-365-3051.

 

About us...

Board of Directors

Leon Smith, Iola, President
Lanita Jay, Iola, Vice President
Aileen Wilson, Iola, Treasurer
Nich Lohman, Iola, Secretary
Leon Harris, Iola
Aileen Wilson, Iola
Kathy Ward, Moran
Larry Manes, Moran

Staff

Jeff Kluever, Director/Curator