History Lunch and Learn: A History of Lenexa
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025 | noon–1:15 p.m.
Thompson Barn, 11184 Lackman Rd., Lenexa, KS 66219
Explore "A History of Lenexa," a unique look at the forces and figures that shaped this vibrant Kansas community with local historian Bill Nicks. This presentation delves into Lenexa's foundational platting, the Bradshaws, the origin of the name Lenexa, and the impact of historic trails. We'll examine the pivotal roles of the spinach era, highway development, and the visionary efforts of William Strang in establishing early suburbs, along with J.C. Nichols' broader influence. Discover the transformation of City Center and the charm of Old Town. This talk offers a dynamic exploration of Lenexa's past, inviting attendees to connect with its unique narrative. Ages 18+
Learn more and register to attend
History Happy Hour Series: Voices of Japanese “War Brides” in Postwar Kansas
Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 | 5–6 p.m.
Lenexa City Hall, 17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS 66219
Japanese women fled the devastation of a war-torn Japan after World War II to find challenges in a strange, new world. After marrying U.S. military men and moving to the United States, these young women often faced challenges and hardship while others found opportunity and success. How do they adjust to a Western world and a military culture? How did they maintain connection to their homes and families back in Japan? This talk will share the voices of Japanese women who triumphed amidst great struggle to find community, connection, and culture identity in the place they viewed as the last destination of their lives — the Kansas prairie.
Ayako Mizumura is the academic director of the University of Kansas’s Center for East Asian Studies, a role she’s held since 2013.
The series is a partnership with Humanities Kansas, a nonprofit organization encouraging Kansans to draw on diverse histories, literatures and cultures to create connections with one another and strengthen Kansas communities and democracy. Ages 18+.
Learn more and register to attend
History Lunch and Learn: Johnson County Genealogical Society
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 | noon–1:15 p.m.
Thompson Barn, 11184 Lackman Rd., Lenexa, KS 66219
The Johnson County Genealogical Society will present an overview of free genealogy resources and services available to the public online and in person. Learn about the genealogy desk at the Johnson County Central Resource Library staffed by volunteers who can assist you with your family history. This presentation will describe online databases, forms and information that can get you started or assist no matter where you are in your ancestral journey. Find out about one-on-one help as well as how to digitize your old photos, slides, movies, VHS tapes and more in the free Memory Lab. Ages 18+.
Learn more and register to attend
History Happy Hour Series: "The Civil War in Kansas"
Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 | 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Lenexa City Hall, 17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS 66219
For Kansans, the violent guerrilla warfare between proslavery and antislavery forces known as Bleeding Kansas foreshadowed the national Civil War to come. From 1861-65, the border struggle continued to heat up as Kansans fended off Confederate attacks, accepted the formerly enslaved into their communities, and engaged in bitter political debates. Men of all backgrounds—white, black, and Native American—served in uniform, while women managed farmsteads and formed societies to help the needy. This talk presents the story of Kansas during the Civil War and how it helped shape the state’s image for years afterward.
Will is the director of engagement and learning for Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, Kansas. He earned a PhD in history from the University of Kansas and has contributed to public history projects involving the New York Times, the Truman Library Institute, and the Kansas City Public Library. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Learn more and register to attend
History Happy Hour Series: "We, The People of Kansas..."
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
A nation or state’s founding documents speak to the values and aspirations of its people, and at a functional level, provide the functions of government. For the United States, these are the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and for Kansas, the 1859 Wyandotte Constitution qualifies. It stipulated the form of government, a bill of rights, and systems for elections, education, public institutions, and even the formation of counties and townships. This talk will explore the key components of the Wyandotte Constitution and look at other foundational documents in the state’s history.
Virgil Dean was editor of “Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains,” the quarterly publication of the Kansas State Historical Society, for more than 20 years. He now acts as a consulting editor for the publication. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Learn more and register to attend