Kansas Heritage Series
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Each winter, the Wilson County Old Iron Club hosts a 3 event series focusing on a different aspect of Kansas history and heritage. The premier series was held in early 2013. All events are held on Sunday afternoons at 2pm, in the Town Hall at the “Rollin ‘Red’ Vandever Memorial Park”.
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2022 Heritage Series
This year’s series focuses on three seemingly very diverse topics, yet
all will inform us about aspects of our shared history.
all will inform us about aspects of our shared history.
January 26 – “Ruralpreneurs: Tumbleweeds and Talents in Kansas Communities”
- Presented by Ron Wilson. Ron produces a weekly radio program and news column about rural Kansas.
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January 30 – Land Ethics and Water Resources In 1949 Aldo Leopold sparked the modern conservation movement with his treatise on “land ethics,” declaring that ethical individual cooperation should also consider soil, water, plants, and animals. But what role does culture play in determining the land ethics of place? This presentation explores different land ethics and how they impact our water resources through land management choices. Learn about agricultural practices in Kansas and how they compare with the indigenous land ethics of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, the Altai Republic of Siberian Russia, and Kikuyu people of central Kenya. Presented by Heidi Mehl. Heidi is the manager for the Healthy Streams Initiative at the Nature Conservancy. |
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February 27 - Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas
In the 19th century, the influence of the railroad industry was vast. Some claim that Kansas was created specifically to accommodate westward expansion of railroads. Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs, and fed beef markets in the East. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time. Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, and few survived without it. This progress came at a cost to the Plains Indians who were forcibly displaced by this westward expansion. This presentation examines the complicated legacy of railroads. Presented by Leo Oliva. Leo is a historian with a research focus on 19th-century Kansas |
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March 20 – Kansas’ Local Architecture: History, Place, and Identity
When the Ness City Bank was built in 1890, it was called the Skyscraper of the Plains because it was the tallest building between Topeka and Denver. Still a remarkable structure today, it reflects the optimism of the time when citizens looked forward to a bright future and a growing city. Corner banks as well as opera houses, gas stations, courthouses, and other forms of public and commercial architecture are found in rural towns across Kansas. While some structures have changed, many remain vital. Collectively these buildings contribute to past and present identity. Individually, they reflect continuity, resilience, and place. In this presentation, discover stories of Kansas’ everyday built environment and consider what happens to these structures over time. Presented by Liz Kowalchuk. Liz Kowalchuk is an Associate Professor of Museum Studies Program and the Visual Art Department at the University of Kansas. |
