History Happy Hour: Kansas Day Program "We, The People of Kansas..."

Next date: Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM

Graphic of beer and historical items with text History Happy Hour

A nation's or state’s founding documents speak to the values and aspirations of its people as well as provide the functions of government. For the United States, these are the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. For the State of Kansas, the 1859 Wyandotte Constitution qualifies. It stipulated the form of government, a bill of rights, and systems for elections, education, public institutions and even the formation of counties and townships. This talk will explore the key components of the Wyandotte Constitution and look at other foundational documents in the state’s history.

Presenter Virgil Dean was editor of Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains, the quarterly publication of the Kansas State Historical Society, for more than 20 years. He now acts as a consulting editor for the publication.

This program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.

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.