The Museum has been housed in Wichita’s original City Hall, a landmark building constructed in 1890 and is considered an exhibit in itself. A wide variety of the Museum’s exhibits showcase life in Wichita over the centuries, from the Wichita Indian tribe—whose name the town adopted— to the cowboys who drove their cattle here, to the dawn of aviation and the City’s role as the Air Capital of the World.
DiscoverCatch a glimpse of Wichita's early entrepreneurial spirit as it emerges from a prairie wilderness.
Our History comes alive!
VisitSee for yourself, the fascinating stories and colorful people that made Wichita come to life.
Visitor's Guide
SupportOur memberships provide wonderful benefits and supports for preserving and promoting our local history.
Ways to supportSpecial Exhibitions
Service Beyond Barriers: Bravery & Sacrifice in the Face of Adversity – An Exhibit by WSU Museum Studies Students
Students from the Museum Exhibition class at Wichita State University, under the direction of Holmes Museum of Anthropology Director and Instructor, Rachelle Meinecke, have created…
Being Modern
This exhibition follows (and is directly patterned after) the Museum’s previous exhibit, Art Deco on the Plains. It takes the timeline forward to explore modern…
The Gage Brewer Guitar – First Electric Guitar
Wichita’s unique connection to the history of the electric guitar is explored in the Museum’s feature exhibit, The Spirit of Wichita, which features guitars from…
Why History Museums Collect Art
Art is not only for Art Museums. If a picture is worth a thousand words, it stands to reason that art can tell us a…
Upcoming Events
In the News
- Deadline nears for museum essay contest April 8, 2026
- Thrift finds, guitars, and other events at historical museum April 1, 2026
- Thrift Finds enters final week at Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum April 1, 2026
- Kansas Day Celebration February 4, 2026
- Newstalk Kansas Day February 4, 2026
What our visitors saying about their experience
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Spacious, very well kept, no dust on anything, everything local, so well done.
Tom -
What a hidden gem in the heart of Wichita! The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum is not only breathtaking from the outside its architecture feels like stepping into a fairy tale but it’s also full of rich, fascinating history inside…”
Gio -
Connie
Highly recommend! We were so surprised at how well presented the artifacts were and how many. Well worth the visit!
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Jacqueline
Great museum to spend a couple of hours looking at fantastic and informative exhibits. A reasonable price with a good return for your investment.





