About Us
We are the Seward County Historical Society
SCHS was founded in 1961 for the "enrichment, enjoyment, and education" of lifelong residents and first-time visitors alike. Our mission blends the fascinating real-life history of Seward County with the globally famous story of Dorothy Gale. In giving Dorothy a home here in Kansas, we have surrounded her story with the lived experiences of real-life Kansas settlers.
Scroll through this page for more information about the Society, including the buildings on our campus and major topics from our local history. We love hearing from anyone with stories about Seward, so feel free to reach out with historical inquiries!
our campus
The Larrabee House
The Larrabee House
The Larrabee House
The family home of local businessman Lee Larrabee and his wife Nettie Summers Larrabee today serves as our free county history museum. Built in 1917, this house was moved to its present location in 1961. Stop by to enjoy five permanent exhibits, a rotating exhibit, a special Coronado display, and Dorothy's Gift Shop!
Dorothy's House
The Larrabee House
The Larrabee House
"Dorothy's House" is a 1907 farmhouse once owned by the Jennison and Rice families. Hailing from the same decade the Oz books were first written, this little farmhouse offers a peek into life in Kansas between the 1900s and 1930s. In 2002, Liberal was designated by state statute 68-1029b as "The home of Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz"
The Land of Oz
The Larrabee House
The Riverside Schoolhouse
This walkthrough recreation of Dorothy's journey through Oz was crafted by Kansas artist Linda Windler. Originally housed in a Topeka mall, the Land of Oz found its permanent home in Liberal in 1992. From its initial frightful tornado to its final hall of Oz memorabilia, the Land of Oz is a fantastical journey beginning to end!
The Riverside Schoolhouse
The Riverside Schoolhouse
The Riverside Schoolhouse
The Riverside Schoolhouse is an authentic one-room schoolhouse dating back to the 1890s! Originally located on the Davies ranch next to the Cimarron River, this building is awaiting restoration so it can open for the public.
Bob's Diner
The Riverside Schoolhouse
The Oz Playground
Bob's Diner is a Valentine Diner originally opened in 1958. These prefabricated buildings were manufactured in Wichita and opened all across the United States. Bob's Diner itself served for locals for six decades and was moved to the museum grounds in 2025.
The Oz Playground
The Riverside Schoolhouse
The Oz Playground
Don't miss our Munchkinland Playground! Refurbished in 2016 by a local Eagle Scout candidate, this playground pairs well with the City of Liberal's Dorothy Slipper Slide, located just across the street from us. Stop by to play any day of the week!
Our History
The Coronado Expedition
Battle for The County Seat
Battle for The County Seat
While indigenous tribes inhabited this land for hundreds of generations, the 1540 Coronado Expedition marks the first written record of Kansas history. A Spanish horse bit discovered by a local resident in 1929 cemented Seward's connection to this expedition and lends our Coronado museum its name.
Battle for The County Seat
Battle for The County Seat
Battle for The County Seat
Survival wasn't guaranteed for Kansas Towns in the 1880s. Every new town in Seward was soon competing for the same things: residents, the County Seat, and a prized railroad stop. Fargo Springs and Springfield were the two fiercest contenders in early Seward, but both would ultimately fade away as modern Seward took shape.
A Town Called Liberal
Battle for The County Seat
A Town Called Liberal
The ultimate "winner" of the County Seat War didn't even exist when it started. Liberal owes its name to local settler Seymour Rogers, who became famous for giving free water from his well to passing travelers. These "mighty liberal" acts inspired the local post office's name, giving rise to the surviving town of Liberal, Kansas.
The Dust Bowl
The Liberal Army Airfield
A Town Called Liberal
Seward County was among the ring of panhandle-adjacent communities that saw the worst of the Dust Bowl. Blinding dust storms, drought, a plague of jackrabbits, and even Liberal's first tornado all struck in the 1930s. Farm practices soon changed, adapting to the new reality and paving the way for a path forward. These residents who held on laid the groundwork for modern Seward.
The Liberal Army Airfield
The Liberal Army Airfield
The Liberal Army Airfield
Kansas became a hub of flight training during the Second World War. Liberal itself hosted the Liberal Army Airfield, a training base for B-24 bomber commanders where they learned how to understand their vehicles inside and out. Over 4,000 of these commanders graduated from the Liberal program in the few years it operated. Check out Liberal's own Mid-America Air Museum for more information.
Pancake Day
The Liberal Army Airfield
The Liberal Army Airfield
Have you ever celebrated Shrove Tuesday by racing down the street with a frying pan in hand? Liberal learned of Olney, England's famous Pancake Day traditions in the 1950s and decided to join them in the custom. The two cities now each hold their own Pancake Races each year, comparing times to crown the true Pancake Day winner. Check out the Pancake Day Hall of Fame for more information!