Five museums across Marshall County will open their doors for free admission on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering a full day to explore local history and culture.
Participating museums are the Pony Express Barn and Museum, 106 S. Eighth St.; the Marshall County Historic Courthouse, 1207 Broadway; the Koester House Museum and Gardens, 919 Broadway; the Historic Union Pacific Depot, 400 Hedrix Ave.; and the Blue Rapids Museum, 36 Public Square in Blue Rapids.
“Museum Day gives people a reason to spend the day exploring the stories and buildings that help define Marshall County,” said Wayne Kruse, executive director of OneMarysville. “It is a chance for people to visit places they may not have seen in a while and come back to museums where there is always something more to notice.”
The event is designed for all ages, whether it is a first visit or a return trip. Families can move at their own pace from one location to the next, and residents can use the day to get more familiar with the museums and what each one offers.
“We want people to walk through these museums and know what is here,” Kruse said. “When someone asks what there is to do in Marysville, this gives our own community a chance to answer that from experience.”
In addition to free admission throughout the day, four special presentations will be offered at museum sites in Marysville.
The presentations begin at 10 a.m. at the Pony Express Barn and Museum and Barn with “Ridin’ Trails and Writin’ Rhymes: Cowboy Culture of Kansas” by Ron Wilson. Wilson, a cowboy poet from the historic Lazy T Ranch near Manhattan, is known for sharing stories of ranch life, prairie traditions and Kansas culture through poetry and storytelling.
At 11:30 a.m., the Marshall County Historic Courthouse will host “Food for the Journey: Kansas Stories” by Theressa Rice. Rice, a storyteller, baker and small business owner, shares stories rooted in family, migration and food traditions, connecting audiences to experiences carried across generations.
At 1 p.m., the Koester House Museum and Gardens will feature “The Heart and Soul of Volga German Life” by Jerry Braun. Braun, a teacher who has spent his life learning and sharing Volga German traditions, explores how music connected generations and shaped community life as Volga Germans made their way to Kansas.
At 2 p.m., the Historic Union Pacific Depot will host “Railroaded: The Industry that Shaped Kansas” by historian Leo E. Oliva. Oliva examines how railroads shaped settlement, commerce and daily life in Kansas while also addressing the broader impact of westward expansion.
The presentations are part of “Kansas Folklife: Celebrating Kansas Traditions,” a Humanities Kansas initiative recognizing the nation’s milestone 250th anniversary.
Museum Day is sponsored by OneMarysville and the participating museums. More information is available at onemarysville.com.
