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Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1997

The Smoky Hill Museum is excited to announce that the 1921 oil painting "Smoky River," by Lindsborg, KS artist Birger Sandzén, is now on display in the Museum’s gallery. The painting, accepted into the City of Salina’s public art collection by city commissioners during the December 11, 2023 meeting, was a generous donation by the Karen Hale Young Family

The Smoky Hill Museum has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only 1107 (3%) are currently accredited. The Smoky Hill Museum is one of just 11 museums accredited in Kansas and is one of two museums accredited in Salina.

The Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair takes place on Saturday, September 23 in and around the Smoky Hill Museum at 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina. The Street Fair has no entry cost and is a day to celebrate the Old West with a chili cook-off, music, activities, food vendors and, of course, the museum itself.

The Old West family fun starts with a parade down Santa Fe at 10:00 am. Then down and around the Museum, there will be an Old West chuck wagon, horseshoe tossing, roping, archery, chili cook-off, historic demonstrators, free make-and-take crafts, caricaturists, Color Me Crazy airbrush tattoos and more.

Don’t miss all this free family fun event at the Smoky Hill Museum on Saturday, December 4 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm! Timed tickets are required, so go to smokyhillmuseum.org to get your tickets now.

Come meet Three Artists and an Author at a special come-and-go gathering on Saturday, November 13, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Smoky Hill Museum Store.

Avoid Holiday shipping hassles and score big points with family and friends by giving gorgeous poinsettias as a living holiday gift. The full, 18-inch Small plants are $14. The luxurious, 24-inch Medium plants are $29. Both options are multi-stem plants available in solid red, pink or white, plus two special shades for 2021: Marble (cream leaves with bold pink stripes or striations; pictured) and Superba Glitter (red leaves with cream striation). Also available is the stunning 36-inch Large, only in Christmas red for $40, ideal for fireplace, foyer or doorway use.

Join Steve Schmidt for a historical overview of the Santa Fe Trail. He’ll discuss its beginning 200 years ago, how it played a key role in international events, influenced the global economy, and more.

The Smoky Hill Museum designed and produced a traveling exhibit to send around Kansas, and its first stop is right here in Salina at the Smoky Hill Museum. The exhibit is Life in the Trenches. It explores the human face of WWI and the miserable nature of trench warfare. This unique exhibit focuses on the harrowing first person accounts of Kansas soldiers’ lives in the trenches. It will be on display in the Museum lobby through November 30, 2021.

The Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair takes place on Saturday, September 25 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in and around the Smoky Hill Museum at 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina. The Street Fair has no entry cost and is a day to celebrate the Old West with a chili cook-off, music, activities, food vendors and, of course, the museum itself.

The Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair is seeking parade entries and invites you to participate in this wonderful event. Parade applications must be returned by Friday, September 3, in order to participate.

The Smoky Hill Museum will host a free Zoom presentation about Forts and Posts in Kansas During the Civil War. This presentation will take place on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Applications are now being accepted for food vendors at the Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair. The Street Fair takes place on Saturday, September 25, 2021, in and around the Smoky Hill Museum in downtown Salina. The Street Fair includes a parade, musical acts and children’s activities all with an Old West theme.
Completed applications and a $25 application fee must be postmarked or hand-delivered by July 1, 2021 to the Smoky Hill Museum at 211 West Iron Avenue. Application fee is non-refundable. Accepted vendors will be notified of street placement and receive further information. Accepted vendors will have until August 1 to pay the $100 vendor fee and turn in proof of insurance.

We need the talent of local teams to cook up their own unique brand of chili. In order to make this less of a burden on our teams, we help provide ingredients to help each team off to a good start. Teams will receive a generous starting kit of ingredients that includes 15 lbs. of beef and a mess of onions and tomatoes. From there, each team can add their own unique ingredients to make the chili something special. Entering is easy. Follow this simple check list.

Create a team with up to four people.
Fill out the form below or download and return the paper version.
Choose a theme for your booth, and yes, it’s ok if you want to highlight your organization through your booth theme.
Create your recipe and be ready for a day of fun.
ENTRY FORMS DUE BY JUNE 30.
Non-Refundable Application fee: $25 payable to The Friends of Smoky Hill Museum.
ONLY SIX TEAMS WILL BE CHOSEN, SO GET YOUR PACKET IN TODAY!

Join Landry Brewer as he takes us on a journey to underground missile silos and fallout shelters. He’ll discuss how Kansas played an outsized role in the Cold War and featured prominently in nuclear deterrence and national defense. He’ll also share about Salina’s involvement in and response to the Cold War during the conflict’s most dangerous years. Brewer is the author of Cold War Kansas, available in the Museum Store, and the Bernhardt Assistant Professor of History at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Enjoy a free Zoom presentation about Cold War Kansas from the comfort of your own home on Thursday, February 4, 5:30-6:30p.

The Smoky Hill Museum announces a new date for the 1950s Film Series, now scheduled for Tuesday, February 9 at the Salina Art Center Cinema.

The Film Series, sponsored by Heritage Real Estate Advisors and the Ellsworth Independent-Reporter newspaper, features the 1956 Oscar-winning film "Picnic," filmed largely in Salina and other Kansas communities. It stars Kim Novak, William Holden and Rosalind Russell in the story of Hal, a handsome drifter who stirs up conflict and romance when he comes to town over Labor Day weekend.

The Museum is handing out craft kits for make-at-home fun. Craft kits may be picked up starting Saturday, December 5 through Saturday, December 19, during regular Museum hours. Craft kits are free.

In light of the Saline County Public Health Order, there will be a limit to the number of people entering the Museum. Reservations, made through the Museum website or via phone are highly recommended to guarantee entrance times. Reservations can also be made on-site at the Museum, but there may be a waiting period.

Gorgeous, nursery-grown poinsettias, available in six vibrant shades for 2020, brighten your holiday décor and are easy and affordable to share. Fresh, lush greenery wreaths made at BEL Tree Farm are available in three sizes.

The Smoky Hill Museum is having a special Zoom presentation on November 5 at 5:30 p.m. about the July 1958 Wichita Dockum Drugstore sit-in. Send your email to museum@salina.org to reserve your place.

When the Smoky Hill Museum reopens to the public on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, visitors will be able to see the new exhibit The 1950s Part 2: Beyond the American Dream.  Hours of operation are Tuesdays through Fridays 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Saturdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Smoky Hill Museum will reopen to the public on Tuesday, September 29, 2020. Temporary reduced hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

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