KMUW Community Calendar

Decorate your own cute paper aquatic salamander that you will love alotl! This is a drop-in craft for ages 4-11.

Join us for a cozy session on writing romance. Brainstorm, ask questions, and enjoy snacks and coffee. (Plus there's a free notebook!) Spots are limited. Registration opens on February 1, 2026. Call (316) 261-8500 or visit wichitalibrary.org/events to register.

McIlwaine Quarterly Speaker Series – Remembering Civil War Veterans Who Settled Wichita and Sedgwick County

by Dr. Alfred Eckes

A Survey of Civil War Union Veterans and the Influence of the Grand Army of the Republic locally.

Several thousand veterans of the bloody Civil War arrived in Wichita and Sedgwick County during the late 19th century.  Many of the veterans had experienced years of mortal combat, been wounded, lost limbs, and been held captive as prisoners of war.  They were eager to obtain free land, start families, and begin new lives on the frontier.

While many were successful farmers, others provided business, professional, and political leadership for more than a generation.   Many of these rest permanently in Highland and Maple Grove Cemeteries.

This presentation, utilizing images and historical records, focuses on a number of veterans who were active in the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.).  Union veterans established ten G.A.R. posts in Sedgwick County.  The Garfield post (#25) in Wichita would become the largest in Kansas.

A smaller number of Confederate veterans came to the Wichita area.  The Wichita Confederate Association was active in the early 20th century.  Some of its members were prominent in the community and also sleep in county cemeteries.

About the Presenter

Historian Alfred Eckes has researched and narrated a dozen videos on aspects of Kansas history, accessible on YouTube, over the last decade.  Among them are “Kansas Volunteers in the Civil War” and “Remembering Civil War Veterans in Kansas Resting in Chase County Cemeteries.”

He is an Emeritus Research Professor of History (Ohio University) and a former Chairman and Commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission (1981-1990).  A tariff specialist, Eckes has written ten books on U.S. international trade, globalization, and political history, has and given numerous presentations.

Eckes received his Ph.D. Degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
204 S Main St; Wichita, KS 67202

Saturday April 11th

Doors open at 1:00pm
Program starts at 2:00pm
Open to the public
Free admission

This quarterly speaker series is made possible through a generous grant from the Charles and Joanne McIlwaine Foundation.

There is a world of poetic forms and styles, that can be a little intimidating. We'll explore a variety of poetic styles and their common elements.

North America’s largest award-winning interactive true crime murder mystery dinner show invites you into a night of laughter, mystery, and audience-driven intrigue. Enjoy a full dinner while a hilarious crime unfolds around you—but stay alert. The culprit is hiding in plain sight, and before the night is over, you could find yourself named a Prime Suspect.

Now playing at Wichita Marriott in Wichita, KS, this murder mystery dinner experience is unlike traditional dinner theater. Our professional actors are not in costume and are secretly planted among the guests, creating a modern, social, and highly interactive evening. Each ticket includes our signature live murder mystery show, a complete dinner, waitstaff gratuity, and plenty of unexpected twists. Reserve your tickets now and crack the case before it’s too late.

Planning a group celebration or private event in Wichita? We specialize in custom private shows for companies, parties, and organizations of nearly any size—hosted at our public venue or brought directly to your location. Perfect for team outings, corporate events, and unforgettable celebrations.

Text SPEARS to 49798 for Venue PreSale info on 10/22 at 10 a.m.

All Ages/ All Seating is Reserved
Concessions and full bars open!
(*be advised all comedy events may contain adult content – parental discretion is advised)

Admission to the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum is free to the public on Sundays!

Since 2022, we have received a generous gift from the Ruth Spooner Stone Charitable Trust, INTRUST Bank to make this possible. Visit us in Downtown Wichita and EXPLORE LOCAL HISTORY in one of America’s finest museums, occupying the original City of Wichita's 1890 City Hall.

Come experience dozens of exhibits featuring thousands of artifacts illuminating our unique local history.

Visit the Museum Store for interesting books and other local souvenirs and gift items.

Regular Hours
Tuesday – Friday 11am-4pm
Saturday – Sunday 1-5pm.

Regular admission:
$5 for adults
$2 for children
Free every Sunday!
Members are always free

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums

Join us for a discussion of the 2026 Big Read Wichita title "Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude" by Ross Gay.

Join us for an afternoon with WeHarmonSisters! We'll kick off the afternoon with a screening of their newest episode in the "Color Me Wichita" series, followed by their newest documentary, "Let's Talk Shop," that premiered at last year's Tallgrass Film Festival

About "Color Me Wichita"

Sara and Charity Harmon are award-winning filmmakers with a desire to return to their roots of traditional, hands-on art projects. Each episode, they spotlight a local artist who specializes in a certain medium, and the sisters attempt to create something in that same style.

About "Let's Talk Shop"

Sisters and award-winning filmmakers, Sara and Charity Harmon, tell the history of Wichita's two biggest department stores: Innes and Henry's. Though these stores no longer exist, the former buildings are being repurposed for higher education.

Learn more at:
https://www.shoutwichita.com/harmon-sisters-lets-talk-shop/
communityvoiceks.com/2025/10/24/harmon-sisters-lets-talk-shop-documentary-wichita/

About WeHarmonSisters:

Sara and Charity Harmon, known as "WeHarmonSisters," are award-winning Wichita filmmakers. Their films include For Your Amusement, Who Scammed Rajah Rabbit?, and their latest, Let's Talk Shop. They began their media journey as teenagers before choosing it as a career and graduating with degrees in Communication. The sisters create fun, artsy, humorous content that educates as well as entertains their audience.

Paint a picture of your favorite cuddly, egg-shaped toy! Bring your own Squishmallow model or use one of ours. For ages 8-14.

Bring your best dance moves and join the fun! This program is open to small children and their caregivers. Fancy attire not required but encouraged! For ages 0-4.

Join us for a discussion of the 2026 Big Read Wichita title "Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude" by Ross Gay.

MakeICT is Wichita's oldest community driven Maker Space. Maker Monday is our open house event, and a great way to experience the makerspace and the maker culture in person. Come tour our shops and see our brand new facility at 5920 E. Mt. Vernon. You’ll learn all about our makerspace, tools, policies, people, and how we operate.

Our tours are free and open to the public. While you are welcome to just show up, we prefer that you register in advance so we have enough members on hand to assist with our tours. Sessions are at 7 pm and 7:30 pm.

If you wish to begin your membership at Maker Monday we will have members here to sign you up. There’s always something interesting going on at Maker Monday!

To contact our onboarding team to arrange a tour outside our scheduled ones on Maker Mondays or general questions about joining, please send an email to onboarding@makeict.org.

Design and start a personal journal of unabashed gratitude with Tara Gwynn, executive director of NAMI Wichita.