Franklin County, KS, Rural History Club: Appanoose Museum

The Rural History Club recently took a spin through the northwestern corner of Franklin County, and we simply didn't have time to see everything. We drove right by a couple of old schools and cemeteries, we bypassed the site of an alleged Border War massacre, and we passed within barely a mile of the field where Chief Appanoose is supposedly buried.

But we got a pretty good overview of the local area anyway, thanks to an all-too-brief stop at the Appanoose Museum. There, we saw photos of Chief Appanoose and displays dedicated to several local communities, as well as a covered wagon, a tribute to local military veterans, collections of old typewriters and musical instruments, a roomful of vintage toys, and a replica kitchen, living room, and schoolhouse, all furnished with period decor.

These exhibits are housed in separate rooms around the perimeter of what used to be the Appanoose High School gym. You could still shoot hoops on the basketball court--the hardwood is in good shape--but we forgot to bring our ball. The rich history was too distracting anyway, and we all darted from room to room, discovering new facts about the region or old artifacts that brought back memories.

Our tour began with a warm greeting by Virginia Cook, a volunteer who was kind enough to open the doors for our group. The museum is regularly open to the public every Sunday from June through August; outside of that schedule, you'll have to do what we did and request a special appointment.

Officially known as the Appanoose Area Preservation Society, the facility also hosts events. This past September, the Annual Indian Arrowhead and Artifact Show took place there. The society also offers events during the holidays; we recommend checking the Facebook page for current information (link below).

Many thanks to Virginia for showing us around and to everyone who curates and maintains this local gem. For some of us, the Appanoose Museum was just a reminder of how much Franklin County history we don't know. Which can only mean one thing, of course: we will be back to learn more!