Kansas
Kansas museums see overall boost despite national attendance decline
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Museums across the United States are struggling with declining attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic, but Kansas institutions are bucking the national trend strong visitor numbers.
A recent survey by the American Alliance of Museums asked more than 500 museums nationwide and found traffic remains down since the pandemic began in 2020.
Kansas museum reports record attendance
The Kansas Aviation Museum experienced its highest attendance year ever in 2024, according to Ben Sauceda, president and CEO of the museum.
“2024 was our highest record attendance year ever as a museum, and so we’re seeing a lot of momentum around that,” Sauceda said.
Sauceda credited state programs for boosting museum visits across Kansas.
“Things like the Sunflower Summer Program that Kansas offers. That has been a huge boost to attendance in museums across our state,” he said.
The Gathering Place also reported increased traffic since the pandemic, according to museum officials.
Adam Smith, president and CEO of Exploration Place, said Kansas museums have remained stable.
“I think in general, Kansas is, you know, we’ve seen, we’ve been pretty solid, actually,” Smith said.
Financial challenges persist nationally
The national study shows one-third of museums reported loss of federal grants and contracts impacted them this year.
Museum leaders said institutions must adapt to succeed in the current environment.
“Even as museums, we are still businesses that have to operate in a manner of innovation and creativity. And so again, I think the ones that are finding success right now are the ones that are learning and finding ways to innovate and change and meet the demands of the market where they’re at right now,” Sauceda said.
Smith emphasized the importance of family engagement.
“And so finding ways in which families like to spend time together while creating unique learning or exposure opportunities is how you have to move forward,” he said.
Museums like the Kansas Aviation Museum continue advocating at the state level for renewal of the Sunflower Summer Program for the 2026-2027 season.
Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Linn County, Kansas, man died in a single-vehicle crash early Thursday morning.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says just after midnight Thursday, a 41-year-old Centerville, Kansas, man was driving south on Mills Road about 6.5 miles southwest of La Cygne when he lost control of a 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
The vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment, causing the Hyundai to overturn before coming to rest on its top.
The driver and sole occupant of the car, Edward Schultz, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A new mural under the Kansas Avenue Memorial Bridge will be unveiled Thursday afternoon in North Topeka.
A ceremony celebrating the mural will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2 under the bridge near Veterans Park, 131 N.E. Laurent St.
The finished mural, titled “Reflections of North Topeka,” is the culmination of a project that brought together artists, students, volunteers, local leaders and community members to create a lasting tribute to the history and spirit of North Topeka.
“Over the past several months, the bridge has been transformed into a vibrant outdoor gallery that tells the story of our community,” organizers said in a news release. “From the area’s Indigenous roots and the Kaw Nation to the development of Eugene, the growth of North Topeka, and the revitalization of today’s NOTO Arts & Entertainment District, the mural celebrates the people, places, and events that shaped our community.
“What makes this mural truly special is the community behind it. More than 90 volunteers helped paint this project, proving that when people come together with a shared vision, incredible things can happen.”
The celebration will include:
- The official unveiling of the completed mural
- A brief program with remarks from the mural team
- A ceremonial ribbon cutting
- An opportunity to meet the artists and learn about the stories behind the artwork
- Complimentary refreshments
Led by Project Manager and NOTO Arts Administrator Staci Schnacker, lead artist Zandra Sneed-Dawkins, and supporting artists DeAna Morrison, Jordan E. Brooks, and Pradeep K. Bangalore, “this mural is more than public art,” organizers said — “it’s a celebration of the people, places, and history that make North Topeka unique.
This project was supported in part through the National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsConnect Topeka, the City of Topeka, Shawnee County Parks + Recreation, and many other community partners, businesses, artists, and volunteers.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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