Wabaunsee County Historical Society & Museum

10/12/2026

It’s a wrap! Not just one but two “Prisoners on the Prairie" sold out tours!

We had ALOT of help to pull this off 😉

Thank you to our 160 guests that attended! Your support is appreciated.

Thank you to our presenters Brian Bohnsack, Lowell May, Blake Thomas, Bill Ledeboar, Ethan Smith, Christian McDaniel & Gabriel Dabbs, who took us back in time through presentations & re-enactments of the life of prisoners of war working on farms in Kansas.

Thank you to our generous hosts Fire station #5, City of Eskridge, the Evangelical Redeemer Lutheran Church & the lodge at Wild Olives provided space for the event.

Thank you to Wild Olives for preparing an authentic German buffet.

Thank you to Wabaunsee County Transportation & lake locals for helping our guests.

A special thank you to our volunteers and in kind donors: The Eskridge Market, Sugar Creek General Store, Linda Barnes, Jerry Haahr, Lisa Kane, Sam Kidd, Jim Meinhardt, Rob Meseke, Rhonda Nehring, Louise & Ron Ronnau, Phil Schutter, Mary Reed Spencer, Sheryl & Ron Thowe, Cheryl Whitman, Dan & Lisa Zeller and many others behind the scenes that gave us a hand.

This event was sponsored in part by Stockgrowers State Bank, Wild Olives & WTC.

10/08/2026

If you follow us you know we LOVE visitors!

Each year the Alma Chamber has a Halloween parade, which brings children out to enjoy the holiday by visiting businesses.

We enjoy being one of the stops for hundreds 😬 of children to get a treat..

We appreciate donated candy to give these special visitors!

If your out shopping and can grab a bag for us we would much appreciate!

Thank you to all of you that help each year. We appreciate your support to this fun event!

10/07/2026

October 20 is the day some of you have been waiting for!

The museum quilt “Kansas Sunflowers” raffle drawing will take place at 3pm!

This is a wonderful annual project for these ladies to contribute in a special way, as ticket sales benefit the museum.

Tickets are available for purchase at local banks, at the museum, or by mail.

You do not have to be local or present to win!

Tickets are 2/$5 or 5/$10.

Handy tip……Bring in your address labels so you do not have to write your name multiple times on tickets!😉

And a special thank you to Stockgrowers State Bank and Bank of the Flint Hills in Alma for helping sell tickets.

10/06/2026

History was made by this great group of volunteers!

In 3 days they rebuilt a section of stone fence that was in need of repair. Now it’s good for another 150 years 😉

And a fun fact about this group is that the majority of them are members & volunteers here at the museum!

Thank you all for your commitment to our county.

10/04/2026

We still have spots available for the "Prisoners on the Prairie" tour October 10 or 11, 10:00am-3:00pm at Lake Wabaunsee.

If you’re a K-State fan and can only come on Saturday that’s ok.
You can catch presentation at 10am, do self guided tour and grab a b**r or soda and snack in the b**r garden or our canteen. Then you can cut out before kick off 😉 win win! 🏆 you experience event maybe minus the buffet meal if your pressed for time.

The event highlights the story of German prisoners of war who were housed at Lake Wabaunsee to work alongside area farmers during a time of wartime labor shortages.

Noted author Lowell May will present the compelling story of German POWs in Kansas and at Lake Wabaunsee, where remnants of the former camp infrastructure remain “hiding in plain sight.”

Highlights
• 10:00 am – German POWs Experience in Kansas Presentation by Lowell May

• 11:30 am – 1:00 pm German buffet served or self guided tour.

• 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Guided walking tour and time to explore.

Artifact presentation by Lowell May.

And bonus…Re-enactors will bring this history to life!

B**r Garden opens at 11:30 with German b**r, Bierocks, and Bavarian Pretzels for purchase!

German Buffet Lunch (Pre-purchased required, quantities limited)

T-shirts, books and vintage-style candy and Fanta available for purchase. Cash, checks or credit/debit cards can be excepted.

The German buffet is $25 and includes: Sausage & Sauerkraut, Pork Schnitzel, Chicken & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Cucumber Salad, Green Bean Dumpling Soup, and Apple Kuch.

Golf carts will be available.

Click link to register.

https://wabaunseecomuseum.org/?page_id=8086

10/03/2026

Look who moved from pledged to collected in our Match Campaign…..

Alma has met their pledge thanks to a donor that pushed them over the finish line!

These pledged cans represent people that wants us to reach or goal of $100,000 collected in donations by 12/31.

When these pledged cans are moved to the collected side of our window we will have raised over $87,000!

Here is standing on pledged cans have collected….
who will be next to “fill their can”?!…..

Lake Wab. $1500
Eskridge $1100
Harveyville $1287
Alta Vista/Volland $600
McFarland $1255
Farmers Union Past Employees $1250
Emma & Herman Zeckser $1750
Eskridge Lumber $300

If you like to give a gift to get your favorite “can” closer to their goal of $2,000 here are easy ways:

❇️ Give online at https://square.link/u/nfvwIlA8

❇️Mail a check to us at PO Box 387, Alma KS 66401.

❇️ Or come see us. 😉

Add in memo line if you want to give gift to a specific “can”.

A special thank you to the Alma donor.
Your gift shows how the power of one can make a difference.

10/02/2026

SOLD OUT!
"Prisoners on the Prairie" tour October 10 or 11, 10:00am-3:00pm.

This tour is a rare opportunity to learn about German Prisoners of War that were held at Lake Wabaunsee during World War II.

The event highlights the story of German prisoners of war who were housed at Lake Wabaunsee to work alongside area farmers during a time of wartime labor shortages.

Through presentations, displayed artifacts, re-enactors, and a walking tour, guests will learn how shared work, meals, culture, and humane treatment helped create unexpected friendships between local residents and prisoners.

Noted author Lowell May will present the compelling story of German POWs in Kansas and at Lake Wabaunsee, where remnants of the former camp infrastructure remain “hiding in plain sight.”

Highlights
• 10:00 am – German POWs Experience in Kansas Presentation by Lowell May

• 11:30 am – 1:00 pm German buffet served

• 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Guided walking tour and time to explore.

Artifact presentation by Lowell May.

And bonus…Re-enactors will bring this history to life!

B**r Garden opens at 11:30 with German b**r, Bierocks, and Bavarian Pretzels for purchase!

German Buffet Lunch (Pre-purchased required, quantities limited)

T-shirts, books and vintage-style candy and Fanta available for purchase

The German buffet is $25 and includes: Sausage & Sauerkraut, Pork Schnitzel, Chicken & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Cucumber Salad, Green Bean Dumpling Soup, and Apple Kuchen for d

Golf carts will be available.

Click link to register.

Throughout the year, the Wabaunsee County Historical Society offers events that share our story and connect our community! Join Us! Prisoners on the Prairies POW Tour October 10th & 11th at 10 …

09/29/2026

Look who moved from pledged can to collected can…..!

The community of Maple Hill has “filled their can” with over $2200 collected!

Alma & Lake Wabaunsee are neck & neck with $1,500 collected!

Next up;

Harveyville & McFarland over $1200

Right behind them is Eskridge, Alta Vista/Volland.

If you like to give a gift to get your favorite town closer to their goal of $2,000 here are easy ways:

❇️ Give online at https://square.link/u/nfvwIlA8

❇️Mail a check to us at PO Box 387, Alma KS 66401.

❇️ Or come see us. 😉

Add in memo line if you want to give gift to a specific “can”.

A special thank you to those that contributed to “filling the can” for Maple Hill, Paxico & Harveyville’s first can!

09/28/2026

SOLD OUT!
Due to high demand, we have brought back our popular fall "Prisoners on the Prairie" tour about German Prisoners of War held at Lake Wabaunsee during World War II.

The event highlights the story of German prisoners of war who were housed at Lake Wabaunsee to work alongside area farmers during a time of wartime labor shortages.

Through presentations, displayed artifacts, re-enactors, and a walking tour, guests will learn how shared work, meals, culture, and humane treatment helped create unexpected friendships between local residents and prisoners.

Noted author Lowell May will present the compelling story of German POWs in Kansas and at Lake Wabaunsee, where remnants of the former camp infrastructure remain “hiding in plain sight.”

Highlights
• 10:00 am – German POWs Experience in Kansas Presentation by Lowell May

• 11:30 am – 1:00 pm German buffet served and guided walking tour available

• 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Pop-up Museum with artifact presentation by Lowell May.

Re-enactors will bring this history to life!

B**r Garden opens at 11:30 with B**r, Bierocks, and Bavarian Pretzels for purchase!

German Buffet Lunch (Pre-purchased required, quantities limited)

T-shirts, books and vintage-style candy and Fanta available for purchase

The German buffet is $25 and includes: Sausage & Sauerkraut, Pork Schnitzel, Chicken & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Cucumber Salad, Green Bean Dumpling Soup, and Apple Kuchen for dessert.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore history and discover stories of farm work and friendship that are close to home!

Golf carts will be available.

Click link, events, to register.

https://wabaunseecomuseum.org/?page_id=8086

09/27/2026

Thank you for this workshop! Our guests loved it!