The next two programs in a series of free history lectures are coming up at noon Feb. 8 and 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Finney County Historical Museum in Garden City, focusing on what life was like in frontier forts during the 1800s.
The noon program Feb. 8 will be offered by Johnetta Hebrlee, museum education coordinator; with the 7 p.m. presentation Feb. 21 by Troy Krehbiel, a Holcomb native and living history reenactor at Fort Larned and Bent’s Fort.
The two sessions are part of eight programs scheduled in the Finney County Historical Society’s History at High Noon and Evenings at the Museum series, taking place at noon the second Wednesday and 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of January through April. Lectures also take place twice monthly in September, October and November.
Those who attend should use the museum’s north entrance. Beverages and cookies will be provided, and listeners are welcome to bring their own lunch or dinner, if desired. The series is sponsored for the FCHS by the Western Kansas Community Foundation.
Both recent January presentations were based on “But the Blood,” a novel by Leoti pastor and author Stephen Morefield about the true 1887 story of America’s bloodiest county seat battle, which took place in Wichita County, Kansas. Signed copies of Morefield’s book are available in the Finney County Museum gift shop.
Programs next month are set for noon March 8 and 7 p.m. March 21, with the first covering the history of Lake McKinney in Kearny County and the second outlining this history of the Arkansas River.
The river program will be presented in partnership with the Humanities Kansas cultural organization, featuring Hannes Zacharias, Dodge City native and University of Kansas professor.
Segments are scheduled at noon April 12 and 7 p.m. April 18, the first about historic Garden City hotels and the second specifically focusing on the landmark Windsor Hotel.