Riley County Historical Society Fund

The Riley County Historical Society collects, preserves, and presents the heritage of Riley County and the State of Kansas, supporting, advocating for, and promoting interest and awareness of our local history and the Riley County Historical Museum for the benefit of all. 

The Riley County Historical Society, founded in 1914, supports the work of the Riley County Historical Museum (2309 Claflin Road, open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 to 5) and Goodnow State Historic site (2301 Claflin Road, open Saturday and Sunday 2 to 5, and when RCHM staff is available weekdays.) 

The Society also presents local history at the Pioneer Log Cabin (Manhattan City Park- open Sunday 2 to 5 April through October), Wolf House Historic Site (Wolf House Museum, 630 Fremont, open Saturday and Sunday 2 to 5), and Rocky Ford School (Barnes Road and Tuttle Creek Boulevard, open by appointment.)  Admission is free at all properties.  In addition,  exhibits are offered in the Riley County Office Building and in the Riley County Courthouse, and occasionally at other locations.

The Riley County Historical Society has a collection of over 85,000 objects, a library/archives of over 4,500 books and monographs, 10,800 cubic feet of manuscripts and archives, and over 27,000 photographic negatives and images.  The research library/archives are available by appointment at 785-565-6490.

Educational programming is offered for children and adults. 

The Riley County Historical Society is deeply grateful for the support (financial, volunteer, and in donation of objects and records) from the community over the last 100-plus years.  We rely on and appreciate this support.