Legler Barn Museum & Depot

Legler Barn Museum Exterior

Lenexa’s history is on display at the Legler Barn Museum & Depot in Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. The property features several historical structures.

Museum grounds

  • Legler Barn heritage museum 
  • Restored Lenexa train depot
  • Strang Line wait station 
  • Bandstand replica (Gazebo) 
  • Red barn 
  • Retired caboose 

Legler Barn was built in 1864 by the Legler family on the Santa Fe Trail near 95th Street and Quivira Road. The barn was reconstructed in its current location in 1983. At that time, it was made into Lenexa’s heritage museum.

The museum includes information about the town’s families, festivals and businesses. The restored Lenexa Train Depot showcases transportation and railroad artifacts. These artifacts show how people traveled in different ways over time.

Programs, tours and research 

Programs

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. 3, 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

Featured exhibits

Sunflowers: In Full Bloom a Bill Nicks Collection

Jan. 15–Aug. 31, 2025 

Bill Nicks has always been an idea man and a dreamer. In the 1980s he began a collection of sunflowers out of the simple curiosity of wondering how many things had sunflowers on them. Bill now has more than 2,000 sunflowers in his collection. Visit this exhibit and be inspired by this iconic bloom chosen not only by the State of Kansas as its state flower but by thousands who see it as a symbol of strength, resilience and warmth.

Living Sovereignty

Sept. 3, 2025–Nov. 8, 2025

Living Sovereignty: Sustaining Indigenous Autonomy in "Indian Territory" Kansas is a guest exhibit developed by Watkins Museum of History in partnership with Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area. This exhibit explores indigenous tribes in Kansas and Missouri and their struggle for self-governance with the United States government.  

Historic trails teaching trunk

Don't miss this opportunity for a hands-on learning experience. This program focuses mainly on the 19-century Santa Fe Trail route that connected Missouri with New Mexico and ran through present-day Lenexa.

The teaching trunk is not a complete lesson plan. The ideas and artifacts are meant to supplement your curriculum. All items are approved for careful handling.

  • 25+ real historic artifacts
  • Activity and resource packet included 
  • Two-week checkout period 
  • Free! 

Activity and Resource Packet(PDF, 354KB)

To reserve, contact Ashley Nguyen at anguyen@lenexa.com or 913.477.7133

 

19th-century slingshot     19th-century school slate with abacus

Field trips and private tours

Legler Barn Museum & Depot field trips and private tours are customized to each group's needs.

Topics

  • Lackman-Thompson House Tours
  • Life on the Prairie
  • Transportation in Early Lenexa
  • Gardens: A way to survive
  • Spinach Capital of the World
  • Behind the Scenes 

Cost

Fees are based on duration, topics covered and special activities planned. If no special activities are chosen that require an additional fee, the base rate is $4 per person for a 1-hour tour.

  • Private tour group size: 8–45 people
  • Please provide 1 adult per 6 children
  • Children 2 and under are free

How to reserve

Private tours and trips must be booked three weeks before the trip and paid for in advance. Some tour options are seasonal or may need to be rescheduled due to weather. If your group needs to cancel because of weather, you may reschedule.

Contact Ashley Nguyen at anguyen@lenexa.com or 913.477.7133 for more information.

    Kids coloring bison on paper at a table

    Research options

    Want us to do research for you? 

    Do you have a question about Lenexa history? Send details about your questions to anguyen@lenexa.com.  

    There is a small fee for research taking longer than 30 minutes.

    Fee Schedule and Use Agreement(PDF, 106KB)

    Prefer to do research yourself?  

    The museum's research library is available by appointment.

    Please call 913.477.7133 to schedule an appointment or request more information. 

    Get involved

    Are you interested in history and looking to make an impact in your community? Volunteer to assist with the museum or on-site garden. 

    Positions available: 

    • Archives digitization assistant 
    • Artifact cleaning assistant 
    • Exhibit assistant 
    • Garden assistant 
    • Museum education assistant 
    • Oral histories assistant 

    Sign up to volunteer

    Park amenities near the museum

    Historical photo gallery

    armers State Bank building front with broken windows (circa 1908)

    Broken glass shows the results of an attempted robbery at Farmers State Bank in 1908 in Old Town Lenexa.

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    Group of men harvesting wheat with machines (circa early 1900s)

    A puff of smoke rises from old machinery used during the wheat harvest in rural Lenexa. (Circa 1900s)

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    View of Legler Barn in 1950s at its original location with a truck in the foreground

    The Legler Barn’s original location was on 95th Street and Quivira Road. (Circa 1950)

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    1923 Lenexa Baseball Team and coach posing for photo

    The 1923 Lenexa Baseball team is depicted with their coach and 1920s-style cars in the background.

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    Lenexa Hotel under construction as Strang Line car passes in foreground (circa 1900)

    The Strang Line trolley car breezes by the Lenexa Hotel in early 1900.

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    Early gas station building made of stone

    Known as one of the first gas stations, this building still stands in Old Town Lenexa today. Electric chargers were installed in front of this building in 2023.

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    Exterior of Lenexa Police Department and patrol car (circa 1970s)

    The building that used to be located at Walnut and Haskins Streets housed the first paid police officers and chief of police for Lenexa.

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    A population sign located on current day Pflumm shows everything great the town has to offer.

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    Lenexa train depot with man and boy standing alongside railroad tracks (circa 1900)

    A man and boy stand in front of a depot built on the south side of the railroad tracks in Old Town Lenexa. (Circa 1900)

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    Exterior of The Trail Inn with people posing on porch and in yard

    The Trail Inn was a two-story hotel ran by the Newcomer family was located on Pflumm and Walnut Streets in the early 1900s.

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    Panorama vista of Old Town Lenexa featuring several shops, the Lenexa Hotel and a city park

    A panorama photo of Old Town in early 1900s shows several shops located on Santa Fe Trail drive, the Lenexa Hotel and the city’s first park.

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    Contact Us

    Address

    Legler Barn Museum & Depot
    14907 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS 66215

    Hours

    Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    Closed on official City holidays

    Staff contact

    Ashley Nguyen
    913.477.7133
    anguyen@lenexa.com

    Admission and Parking

    Free

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