Heritage - Explore Crawford County, Kansas

Croation Customs & Cuisine presentation at Miners Hall Museum – Dec 3

Join us this Sunday, December 3 at 2 p.m. at Miners Hall Museum in Franklin, KS for a very special program. PSU Interns Katie Well and Rosemary Stapleton will start with a short presentation about their project at the museum which focuses on the men and women that built the towns we live in!

44 killed in Frontenac mining disaster on November 9, 1888

November 9 marks a somber anniversary in Southeast Kansas. In 1888, 44 men, ages 13-to-45, were killed in Frontenac in the state’s largest mine disaster. 10 nationalities were represented in the deaths: America, Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, and Scotland.

“Croatian Heritage” presentation at Miners Hall Museum on November 12

Topics will include Croatian immigrants, employment, Croatian music & instruments. Songs on the Taburitza will also be performed.

Pittsburg bookstore to host Q&A with Indigenous writer of “Blood Sisters” thriller

An Indigenous bestselling author will do a Q&A at a Pittsburg, Kansas bookstore on November 4. Her new novel, “Blood Sisters”, is set in nearby Picher, Oklahoma – “legally” stolen Native land and the site of man-made environmental devastation.

Celebrate Diwali, festival of lights, with PSU international students: Friday, October 27

The Indian Student Association at Pittsburg State University will host Diwali, the festival of lights, on Friday, Oct. 27, at the…

PSU graduate on tap to become colonel will speak at Veterans Day ceremony: November 10

Lt. Col. Jeremiah Hull, a 2001 graduate of Pittsburg State University and the recipient of a Bronze Star, will be the…

Pittsburg State Homecoming Week: October 23-28

The Pittsburg State University Homecoming Committee is gearing up for Homecoming 2023. This year’s theme: “Gorilla of the Century.” Activities will get…

October 19 presentation to explore impact of Gordon Parks

The impact and inspiration of three books by Gordon Parks, a native of Fort Scott, Kansas, who became one of the most esteemed image makers of all time, will be discussed in a special presentation by Humanities Kansas.

Croatian Heritage in Southeast Kansas special exhibit at Miners Hall Museum

The exhibit will contain documents, family stories, clothing, photos, items typically found in a Croatian home and much more. Many of the items are on display courtesy of Strawberry Hill Museum & Cultural Center and George Barberich.

PSU international students plan 2nd Annual Global Fest International Night Market: September 29

The Global Fest International Night Market is a fun and interactive way to explore the many regions of the world in a lively open-air market atmosphere.

Music festival and overland rally return to Big Brutus: September 29-30

This is not your normal concert experience. This unique location and experience are matched by unique performers who have their own blend of various genres: bluegrass, blues, classic country, classic rock, funk, jazz, pop, rap, reggae, even disco and EDM.

“Sinkhole – A Legacy of Suicide” program and book signing: September 17 & 19

“Sinkhole – A Legacy of Suicide” provides an intriguing look at the author’s family history in southeast Kansas, with an outsider’s look at the unfolding story of immigration, coal mining, labor disputes, and commerce.

Gorilla Capital of the World

What started as a pep club in 1920, then became the nation’s only college with a gorilla as its mascot, has now grown into a phenomenon.

Salvaging the Past – a Miners Hall Museum special program

The focus of the presentation is Larry’s dedication to the preservation and renovation of the historic 1876 Frisco Depot and the old Pittcraft building.

Kansas Heritage Trust Fund Grant Workshop to be held September 8 in Pittsburg

This state program provides matching funds for the preservation of properties listed in the National and State Registers

USD 250 Pittsburg to host ribbon cutting ceremony and open houses for middle school renovations

To honor the completion of the Pittsburg Community Middle School renovations, a ribbon cutting will be held September 1, and open houses will be held September 7 and 8.

Italian Bread: A Crawford County Flavor of Life

While Crawford County may be known nationally for its tasty fried chicken, another food could be even more popular in the area.

Preserving the Past: Coal Camps and Coal Company Houses – July 1 – September 23 exhibit

Miners Hall Museum in Franklin, KS is proud to announce the 2023 Third Quarterly Exhibit, “Preserving the Past – Coal Camps and Coal Company Houses”, opening July 1 and continuing through September 23, 2023.

Frontenac Mining Days: July 6-9

Using the background of the community’s mining and somewhat checkered bootlegging history, the Frontenac Mining Days creates a family fun weekend for both locals and guests, even if they’ve never been to Frontenac before.

Pittsburg celebrates annual 620 Day

The City of Pittsburg’s Downtown Advisory Board (DAB) is inviting the community to celebrate 620 Day with an All-Day City-wide Celebration and a Downtown Block Party.

Cow Creek Cowboy Days and Wild West Show to be held April 28-29

Visit Crawford County Historical Museum in Pittsburg, Kansas for the fastest growing Wild West Show in Southeast Kansas, April 28th and 29th.

Miners Hall Museum presents: “The Emergence of the Railroad in Rural Kansas”

April 23 at 2p at Miners Hall Museum: Learn the impact of the railway on McCune and Cherokee, Kansas.

McCune featured as Miners Hall Museum quarterly exhibit

While this community was not a Coal Camp, it was a hub for area coal camps. This exhibit runs from April 1-June 24, with special programs on April 23, May 21 and June 11.

Diversity Week hosted by PSU student organizations

Students in a variety of organizations are collaborating to hold Pittsburg State University’s first Diversity Week with several events open to the public.

Experience the world at the International Food and Culture Fair

Guests can once again go around the world in a few hours when the International Student Association at Pittsburg State University hosts the annual International Food and Culture Fair on Saturday, March 4, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Hotel Stilwell History

The Hotel Stilwell’s history runs back to 1889, when a board of trade sought funds to build a high-class, metropolitan…

Self-Guided Tours

Historically preserved buildings with beautiful architecture. Gorilla statues and other monuments, plus murals. Whatever your interest, Crawford County, Kansas has it.

Little Balkans Days Festival seeking vendors

Applications for vendors are now open for the Little Balkans Days Festival over Labor Day Weekend in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Myth Or Fact?: Diamonds Are Made From Coal

Southeast Kansas and, in particular, Crawford County have a strong history in coal mining and the question, “Are diamonds made from coal?” often arises when discussing the topic.

World Radio Day (2/13): Making (radio) waves in Crawford County at KKOW

Originally posted February 12, 2017 to celebrate World Radio Day on February 13 Today a local favorite among country listeners,…

Our Story

Southeast Kansas once looked and acted like the rest of the state, with prairies and farms as far as the eye could see. The search for coal changed everything.

National Bootlegger’s Day (1/17): Staying Wet in a Dry Land

Rich soil and wine making traditions of immigrants positioned Eastern Kansas to rival California’s Wine Country. 67 years of Kansas Prohibition changed that.