The Allen County Historical Society is headquartered at the Allen County Museum in Iola, Kansas, a community of approximately 6,000 people.  The Society was formed in 1956 in a burst of enthusiasm that carried over from the Allen County Centennial Celebration of 1955.  

When the county government gained approval from its citizens to tear down the historic old courthouse and construct a new building on the Iola city square in 1959, the Allen County Historical Society tried unsuccessfully to save this historic structure.  However, when the new courthouse was complete, the County Government set aside a special Museum Room dedicated to Allen County historical exhibits.  This arrangement continued until the late 1990’s when the museum room was closed and replaced by the drivers’ license station.  By that time the Historical Society had additional museums and the courthouse room was no longer that significant in telling the county’s history.

Although the Society had originally failed to attract enough support to save the old courthouse, ongoing efforts to tear down the Old Jail sparked a public interest to preserve the building.  Following the Society’s efforts to preserve the Old Jail building, a majority of the citizens were supportive of the cause.  

 Special action by the Kansas Legislature made it possible for the Allen County commissioners to deed the jail to the Historical Society in 1959.  After restorative and repair work had been done, the Old Jail Museum was opened to the public on May 20, 1962 and in its first month had 1,677 visitors from 29 states.  A contract with the county was signed in 1965 whereby the Historical Society was made the official Curator of the Allen County Historical Collection.  The old Jail was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

About our supporters...

EXHIBIT WINDOW	SPONSOR(s)
City of Iola	Community National Bank of Iola
Cities of Savonburg & Elsmore	Community National Bank of Humboldt
Allen County Banking	Great Southern Bank, Iola
General Store	The Iola Pharmacy, Inc.
City of Humboldt	Personal Service Insurance, Humboldt, & Yesterday's Treasures, Humboldt
Allen County Gas Boom	The Iola Rotary Club
Territorial Kansas	Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips, PA, Iola
Cities of LaHarpe and Moran	The LaHarpe Telephone Co., Inc. & Dieboldt Lumber & Supply Inc., LaHarpe
Old Farm Implments and Tools	J and J Accounting, Humboldt, & Thompson Auction, Iola
Rural Schools	Iola Insurance Associates
The Civil War	John McRae State Farm, Iola
Gas City, Mildred, Bayard, Petrolia, Leanna, Concreto	Twin Motors Ford, Inc., Iola
Native American Indians	Leon & Ardith Harris, Iola, In Memory of their son Stuart
Post Civil War	Citizens Bank, N.A., Iola
Some Famous Allen Countians - Plus One!	Piqua State Bank, Piqua, Gas, and Yates Center
Cities of Cofachique, Carlyle, and Geneva	MDR Insurance
Quilts	Wal-Mart, Iola
African-American History	Sonic Equipment Co.
Computer Kiosk	Allen County Community College
The Iola Button Factory	Thompson Realty
North Street Window (Rotating Exhibit)	The National Guard and Armory, Iola
Interior Window (Rotating Exhibit)	Monarch Cement Company, Humboldt
Allen County and the Wars	Jim Talkington Shelter Insurance, Iola

EXHIBIT WINDOWS YET TO BE SPONSORED

• Allen County China Display
  
• Zebulon Pike
• South Street Window (Rotating Exhibit)
  

If your business family would like to be an exhibit sponsor, please contact Jeff Kluever at 620-365-3051.

 

About us...

Board of Directors

Leon Smith, Iola, President
Lanita Jay, Iola, Vice President
Aileen Wilson, Iola, Treasurer
Nich Lohman, Iola, Secretary
Leon Harris, Iola
Aileen Wilson, Iola
Kathy Ward, Moran
Larry Manes, Moran

Staff

Jeff Kluever, Director/Curator