Cheyenne County Museum - St. Francis, Kansas The Cheyenne County Museum in St. Francis, Kansas was purpose built and opened in 1987. The front of the building was finished with native Cheyenne County rock. The historical museum does a good job of talking about the local history which is likely to interest people from outside the community. The museum has a number of interesting displays, including one about St. Francis born astronaut Ron Evans and another about Sgt. Jack Weinstein who was posthumously bestowed the Medal of Honor in 2014 for his service in the Korean War. He was one of 24 soldiers who were not originally awarded the medal because of prejudice against Jewish and Hispanic soldiers. One of the most thought provoking subjects touched in the museum is the "Sand Creek Massacre," where Cheyenne and Arapaho people (more than half women & children) were killed and mutilated by the U.S. Army in Colorado on November 29, 1864. Some of the survivors regrouped near St. Francis and there is a memorial to those survivors at the Cherry Creek Encampment site west of town. The museum has a display of the art of the late iron sculpture, Tobe Zweygardt, who created the art at the Cherry Creek Encampment. There is also an opportunity to take a photo as the Jolly Green Giant. Len Dresslar, who provided the voices of the Jolly Green Giant in the 1960s, and of Snap in "Snap, Crackle and Pop" jingles for Rice Krispies cereal, was born in St. Francis. The museum is next to a roadside dog park and information center, which has a large variety of information about Cheyenne County which is available 24/7.
copyright 2019-2024 by Keith Stokes |
