Grinter Place State Historic Site

06/19/2026

06/17/2026

Topeka’s Gertrude Anderson Armantrout was a master of hand-painted porcelain, winning countless blue ribbons at the Kansas State Fair in the early 1900s. Her skill was honored again over a century later, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in their exhibit “State Fairs: Growing American Craft” at the Renwick Gallery. Anderson’s hand-painted cream and sugar bowl are featured in the Blue Ribbon Gallery, sharing a case a with the famed Maricopa potter Ida Redbird.

06/07/2026

Sneak peak of our new dining room layout!!!

06/07/2026

06/04/2026

The Battle of Franklin was fought almost immediately after the Battle of Black Jack in 1856. Franklin had become a strategic stronghold for pro-slavery forces due to its location near the Missouri border. Two groups of freestaters made plans to attack Franklin and recapture stolen property, including a cannon and ammunition. The freestaters were unable to retrieve the stolen cannon, but they successfully made away with Sharpe’s rifles and a large quantity of ammunition. They were, however, able to recapture the cannon at the second Battle of Franklin on August 12, 1856. This photo can be seen at www.kansasmemory.gov/item/90323

06/03/2026

The flyer below describes the Smithsonian exhibit currently at the Wyandotte County History Museum until July 5, 2026. Gather family and tour the exhibit as well as the Museum’s own Native American Traditions and Cultures of Wyandotte County featuring exhibits from both the Kansas Delaware Tribe and the Wyandot Tribe of Kansas through July 5, 2026.

06/03/2026

Applications have been reopened for two positions serving the Charles Curtis House State Historic Site in Topeka! See details at https://www.kansashistory.gov/11403

The Curtis House is the former residence of Vice President Charles Curtis located near the state capitol.

The Kansas Historical Society is seeking a Full-time Site Administrator and a Part-time Assistant Site Administrator. Job duties can be found via the link above. This is a great opportunity for someone with a love for sharing history with others.

These opportunities will be open until filled. The positions have been reopened to seek a wider pool of applicants. Those who applied during the initial opening of these positions need not apply again; your application will continue to be considered.

The Charles Curtis State Historic Site is not yet open to the public.

05/30/2026

We continue our tour of America’s historic sites on our with a visit to Grinter Place State Historic Site in Muncie, Kansas.

The home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1857 on eight acres of land overlooking the Kansas River. The house was acquired by the State of Kansas in 1971 to preserve its extensive involvement with early Kansas Territorial/Statehood efforts. Moses Grinter operated the first ferry on the Kansas River to help troops cross the river from Forts Leavenworth and Scott. His is the oldest house in Wyandotte County.

Grinter Place is open for tours April through October, Wed. to Sun. https://www.kansashistory.gov/15857

Kansas Historical Society KSHPO - Kansas State Historic Preservation Office Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City KS