Galena Mining and Historical Museum

319 W 7th St
Galena, KS 66739
(620) 783-2192

Open 9AM-3:30PM Monday-Saturday in Summer
Call to confirm times the rest of the year.

Free
 

Galena Mining and Historical Museum - Galena, Kansas
MTK railroad depot houses the Galena Mining and Historical Museum
MTK Depot housing the Galena Mining and Historical Museum in Galena, Kansas

The Galena Mining & Historical Museum is an interesting stop along Historic Route 66. Basically staffed by 3 volunteers, the off season hours are irregular, but they will make every effort to accommodate folks interested in the history of the community of Galena.

At first glance, the Galena Mining & Historical Museum is tiny, occupying an old Missouri-Texas-Kansas railroad depot that was moved from another location on Route 66 in Galena. But there is a much larger building tucked away behind the depot.

Features unique to the Galena Museum are a large display of mineral specimens, mining equipment and a model of the Grand Central Mine which was located just east of Galena in Central City, Missouri. 

Also featured is a collection of oil paintings titled Abandoned Mine Scenes by local artist Carol Bliss-Riley. Originally displayed in the Smithsonian Institution from 1969 and 1974 the painting depict old mine scenes from the Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma area. Her husband, DeVaughn, made most of the frames from wood from the buildings being depicted in each picture.


 

mineral samples
Portion of the mineral samples originally collected by the late Howard Litch, the museum's founder.

Grand Central Mine model
Grand Central Mine 1913 - model created by Bill Toney in 1970

Tri-state Abandoned Mine Scenes paintings
Oil Paintings from the Abandoned Mine Scenes collection by Carol Bliss-Riley

jan howard finder and Bill Toney at Galena Mining and Historical Museum
jan howard finder (driving Route 66) and Bill Toney (one of the 3 volunteers keeping the museum open).

Route 66 in Kansas
Galena   Galena 2   Riverton   Baxter Springs
4 Women on the Route   Galena Mining and Historical Museum
 Eisler Brothers Store   Cafe on the Route   Baxter Springs Heritage Center

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copyright 2007-2008 by Keith Stokes