Kansas summers are hot. Really hot! But don’t despair. Lawrence has several excellent heat-busting museums with lots for families to see and do.
University of Kansas Natural History Museum
What kid doesn’t like dinosaurs? That is just one of the reasons KU’s Natural History Museum, part of the Biodiversity Institute, is a local treasure. With four floors of exhibitions, including the historic Panorama, Kansas Silvisaurus dinosaur, Bugtown, and the Bee Tree, many memories are made here. And something exciting is coming in August! VENOMventure, a STEM education escape-style game, will be onsite. The exhibit features a strange and mysterious plant on a rampage. It is perfect for groups of two to five people aged eight and up. This special traveling show requires reservations, which can be made at 785.864.4450. You can also play the Natural History Mystery, where you visit exhibits, work out puzzles, and solve a mystery. It is suitable for ages seven and up.
Watkins Museum of History
Watkins Museum is conveniently located in downtown Lawrence and is a great place to take a chill break from the hustle and bustle of Mass Street. Operated by the Douglas County Historical Society, the Watkins’ programs and exhibits explore the history of this area. The museum has a number of great family activities available, including its Victorian Playhouse, scavenger hunts, and the Lawrence Look Back Machine.
Through the end of August, students are invited to the Watkins to pick up a Pocket History Packet! Each packet directs them to find an artifact or exhibit at the Watkins or other museums in Douglas County. Students can take their packets home to learn more about the topic and participate in an activity. Once the activity is finished, the student will bring the packet back to the Watkins and receive a small prize. The museum supplies some items needed to complete the activities, but families will need crayons, colored pencils, markers, scissors, and glue sticks. Each time students complete a packet, their names will go into a raffle to win prizes! The raffle will take place at the end of August 2023.
Haskell Cultural Center and Museum
After a long break, the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum has reopened. Often overlooked by its larger university neighbor in Lawrence, Haskell Indian Nations University is the premier tribal university in the United States, providing a quality education to Native American students. The Cultural Center celebrates the living culture and heritage of all tribal peoples and is a record of the university’s history. Exhibits include one honoring Native Veterans, with information from when Haskell was a military school to the Navajo code talkers of WW II. Another exhibition focuses on the struggles and successes of the children who attended the government school from the 1880s onward.
Spencer Museum of Art
There is a lot to see and do at the beautiful Spencer Museum of Art, the only comprehensive art museum in the entire state of Kansas. Located on the campus of The University of Kansas, the museum houses over 47,000 works of art and objects of cultural significance, and the recently reopened collection galleries currently host four new exhibitions.
Families are warmly welcomed at the museum. Self-guided tours, art bingo, interactive gallery guides, and scavenger hunts are some activities available to introduce art to young people. On August 26, the Spencer is holding an Art Cart event focusing on contour drawing. This hands-on activity is open to children and adults from 1 to 4 p.m.
Another great new feature at the Spencer is the free parking! Guests can park in the parking structure across the street, then have their tickets validated at the museum.
KU Natural History Museum
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Blvd.
biodiversity.ku.edu/visit
Free admission, with a suggested donation of $7 for adults, $4 for children. All proceeds support the museum.
Watkins Museum of History
1047 Massachusetts St.
watkinsmuseum.org
Admission is free.
Haskell Cultural Center and Museum
Haskell Indian Nations University
155 Indian Ave.
haskell.edu/cultural-center
Admission is free. HCCM is only open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spencer Museum of Art
The University of Kansas
1301 Mississippi St.
spencerart.ku.edu
Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
