Ellis County Historical Society Museum in Hays, Ellis County, United States | Historical Society

Welcome to Ellis County Historical Society Museum, Hays, Kansas, United States. At the Ellis County Historical Society Museum, Hays, Kansas you can view our history in the Main Gallery, from Wild West through World War II. Visit our Saloon and learn to play Faro, a popular card game in the old West. As always our Learning Center for children of all ages, located in our balcony, is open for learning fun with try-on clothes, old-time toys, farm animals, diorama, and much more. The Stone Chapel, built in 1879, is one of the oldest church buildings in the area and the site of our annual temporary exhibits. Visit our Museum Store and take home some Kansas souvenirs.
The Harness Shop, an original store from the early 1900s located on the museum grounds, displays saddles and other related items, telling the story of Ellis County ranchers.
Our replica Volga German Haus, also located on the museum grounds, tells the story of Ellis County's largest immigrant group, the Volga Germans, who settled in Ellis County after living in Russia for 100 years.
Pick up our Walking Tour brochures while you are here. Tour at your convenience down the streets of historic downtown Hays City. In one of our walking tours, you will be taken back to the early Hays City days of the Wild West era. In the other tour, various buildings have been restored and new businesses brought into what they called the "Chestnut Street District" a name that paid homage to the former name of Main Street, which was Chestnut Street from the late 1800s until 1929. Enjoy learning the history of these building.