History Happy Hour: The Civil War in Kansas

Next date: Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM

For Kansans, the violent guerrilla warfare between proslavery and antislavery forces known as Bleeding Kansas foreshadowed the national Civil War to come. From 1861–1865, the border struggle continued to heat up as Kansans fended off Confederate attacks, accepted the formerly enslaved into their communities, and engaged in bitter political debates. Men of all backgrounds — white, black and Native American — served in uniform, while women managed farmsteads and formed societies to help the needy. This talk presents the story of Kansas during the Civil War and how it helped shape the state’s image for years afterward.

Presenter Will Haynes is the director of engagement and learning for Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, Kan. He earned a PhD in history from the University of Kansas and has contributed to public history projects involving the New York Times, the Truman Library Institute and the Kansas City Public Library.

This program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.

Ages 18 and up.

Learn more and register to attend

Grab a drink or bite to eat at the Lenexa Public Market and join us upstairs in the Community Forum at City Hall.

When

Location

Held in the first floor Community Forum.

Lenexa City Hall, 17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa, KS, 66219, View Map