🎙 Ellis County Historical Society wraps season with Family Day events

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

In a continued effort to strengthen its connection to the community, the Ellis County Historical Society will host a free family event to celebrate the end of the season.

The Family Day is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and will serve as the closing reception for the Big Bang Firearm Exhibit, which features the George Sternberg firearm collection.

"We will, of course, have the exhibit open free of charge to everyone in the community," said Ellis County Historical Society Executive Director Amanda Rupp. "We will have all of our outbuildings open as well — the firehouse, the Volga-German house and the harness shop."

According to the event announcement, other events planned include:

1. "Jeff Davidson, Western History Entertainer, will perform shows at 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Jeff’s performance is sponsored by a Dane G. Hansen NW Kansas Arts Grant and Classic Quality Body Shop. With a mix of live music and history, Jeff will traipse the Kansas plains with you and prove that “winning the west was not for the faint of heart.”
2. Before hibernation season sets upon us, visit with our friends from the Sternberg Museum who will bring live reptiles to our campus from 2 to 3 p.m. for your enjoyment and excitement.
   
3. Kids of all ages will be eager to visit Grace Splichal’s art booth to create a covered wagon and explore how pioneers packed for their road trips. Remember to pick up your copy of “Travel on the Trail” a learn and color booklet for the whole family.
   
4. Young and old will want to test their skill at the inflatable ax throwing game sponsored by The Fort.
   
5. In honor of summer’s best, we have included water events – water gun fights, a water balloon sling shot, and panning for gold, all sponsored in part by Classic Quality Body Shop and Orscheln’s.
   
6. Don’t forget to purchase your gun raffle tickets either at the event or before from any Board Member, call 785-628-2624 or go online at [email protected]. Two winners will be drawn from the hopper at 4 p.m. for the prizes of a Henry Big Boy Steel Rifle and an Uberti 1873 Cattleman Pistol."
   

A local food truck is also planned to be on site during the events.

The activities are a part of an effort by the society to become more visible in the community.

"Each time we do this ... engage the public and show that we're out there, it energizes us even more," Rupp said.

For more information about the Family Day, visit the Ellis County Historical Society website, echshays.org.