Riley County Historical Society

Goal: $20,000.00

Specific Need

Riley County Historical Society Historic Sites Preservation Projects 2026

This year, the Riley County Historical Society will use Grow Green gifts to continue exterior restoration and preservation work across all of Riley County’s historic sites, which include the Wolf House Complex (Wolf House, Mansfield House, Moses House, and Wolf Photography Studio), the Rocky Ford School House, the Hartford House, and the Pioneer Log Cabin all under the Society’s stewardship. Collectively, these sites, many of which are listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places preserve and share stories that anchor the history of Riley County and its communities.

Why are these historic sites important to preserving and sharing Riley County’s history?

Together, the Society’s historic sites represent the growth and evolution of Riley County from its earliest settlements through the modern era. Each site provides a unique window into local heritage ranging from domestic life and craftsmanship to commerce, photography, education, and civic development illustrating nearly two centuries of community history.

Preserving and maintaining these structures allows the Society to continue using them to educate, engage, and inspire visitors. Through tours, exhibits, and programs, guests connect directly with the people and places that shaped the region, developing a deeper appreciation for the cultural legacy that continues to influence life in Riley County today.

Recent restoration efforts have included structural repairs, roof replacements, exterior restoration, and ongoing preservation maintenance at multiple sites, including the Wolf House and Photography Studio, Rocky Ford School House and plans are developing for the Pioneer Log Cabin.

What has the Society accomplished recently across its historic sites?

In 2025, more than 1,000 visitors engaged with Riley County’s historic sites including schoolchildren on field trips, families, researchers, and community members eager to experience local history firsthand. Sites such as the Wolf House Museum and the Pioneer Log Cabin offer immersive educational opportunities, helping visitors step into the lives of past residents and understand how they lived, worked, and built the community we know today.

In 2026, the Society continues to expand hands-on learning opportunities across its sites, broadening interpretation to include themes of work, technology, innovation, and community life through time.

How does historic site preservation fit into the Society’s strategic plan?

Preserving and interpreting Riley County’s historic sites is central to the Society’s mission of protecting, documenting, and sharing the region’s heritage. Restoration and maintenance not only safeguard historically and architecturally significant structures but also provide the foundation for public education and community engagement.

Future plans include developing new interpretive exhibits and enhanced public programming at multiple locations ensuring that these sites remain vibrant, accessible, and relevant to future generations.

Who supports the Society’s preservation work?

The Riley County Historical Society owns and operates its historic sites but relies on the enduring generosity of community partners and supporters, including:

Ron and Dixie West, founders of the Wolf House Edna Williams Historic Site Fund
Riley County Historical Museum
City of Manhattan
Public, private, and homeschool groups bringing students to visit historical sites each year
Society members, through dues, donations, and volunteer service
Donors like you, whose contributions sustain the preservation and educational mission of the Society

Thank you for ensuring Riley County’s historic sites continue to share the rich and evolving story of our past—today and into the future.

Mission

The Riley County Historical Society actively collects and preserves the diverse history of the community for future generations in partnership with the Riley County Historical Museum. Our vision is to spark curiosity and inspire interaction through the stories of Riley County.

Values guiding the society include the following:

Stories: Stories are the lifeblood of the Riley County Historical Society. Stories help us remember the past, understand the present, and prepare for what lies ahead. Stories will always be Riley County Historical Society’s most valuable asset.
Preservation: Preservation of the past is also preservation of the future. The Riley County Historical Society is committed to preserving the stories of the past – whether they reside in documents, artifacts, or historic sites – so that they can benefit future generations.
Education: The Riley County Historical Society is committed to educating its members and the public, in partnership with the Riley County Historical Museum, about the diverse histories of Riley County, Kansas, and the importance of preserving history.
Appreciation: In addition to valuing the many different historical perspectives on Riley County, the Riley County Historical Society strives to demonstrate appreciation for its members, staff, volunteers, partners, and the larger community through all its actions.
Inclusivity: The Riley County Historical Society works to create spaces and communities where all people feel included and all voices have a chance to be heard. The Riley County Historical Society wants to help little-known histories surface and seldom-seen perspectives emerge.
Community: As a regionally based historical society, we care about strengthening community by providing opportunities for people to come together, share stories, and make connections. We know that this is essential to our well-being.

Profile

The Riley County Historical Society, founded in 1914, supports the work of the Riley County Historical Museum (2309 Claflin Road, open Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 to 5 p.m.) and Goodnow House State Historic Site (2301 Claflin Road, open the same hours as the Museum).

The Society also presents local history at the Pioneer Log Cabin (Manhattan City Park- open Sunday 2 to 5 p.m., April through October), the Wolf House Historic Site (Wolf House Museum, 630 Fremont St., open Saturday and Sunday 2 to 5 p.m.), and the Rocky Ford School (1969 Barnes Rd., open by appointment.) Admission is free at all properties. In addition, exhibits are offered in the Riley County Office Building, in the Riley County Courthouse, and occasionally at other locations throughout the County.

The Society owns or operates a total of eleven historic buildings, structures, or sites, and oversees and facilitates the preservation and maintenance of each of them.

The Riley County Historical Society has a collection of over 85,000 objects, a library/archives of over 4,500 books and monographs, 10,800 cubic feet of manuscripts and archives, and over 27,000 photographic negatives and images. The research library/archives is available by appointment at 785-565-6490.

A variety of educational and outreach programing is offered for childen and adults in the form of field trips, presentations, speakers' series, lectures, workshops, walking and driving tours, and much more. For more information, please visit www.rileychs.org .

The Riley County Historical Society is deeply grateful for the support (financial, volunteer, and in donation of objects and records) from the community over the last 100 plus years. We rely on, and appreciate, this support.