Last updated: 5/12/2015
105 West LyonLyons, KS 67554
105 W. LyonLyons, KS 67554
Tuesday - Saturday
9 AM - 5 PM
Closed on major holidays.
Rice County Residents and Rice County Historical Society Members are admitted for FREE.
Once again, the Coronado Quivira Museum is joining with 1,500 other museums, the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense to say "Thank You" to our brave men and women in active military service! From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Coronado Quivira Museum will offer free admission for active duty military and their immediate family members. Military ID required.
Adults: $3
Children (5-12): $2
Children under 5: Free
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Charlene Akers
phone: 620-257-3941
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Sandra Green
phone: 620-257-3941
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Josephine Smith
phone: 620-257-3941
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Arabia Lydic
phone: 620-257-3941
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The Coronado-Quivira Museum in Lyons is one of the best small museums in Kansas. Separate displays focus on early inhabitants, Spanish explorers, the Sante Fe Trail, and the coming of homesteaders and permanent settlers.
Part of the museum is in the old Carnegie Library, with most of the displays in the newer, adjacent structure.
To foster understanding and inspire broader knowledge of the unique history of Rice County and the Rice County region for residents and visitors of all ages through the collection, preservation, research and dissemination of information and historical artifacts.
We cover four main interpretive areas:
- The Quivira Indians and Quiviran Indian Culture. We house the largest collection of Quiviran Indian artifacts in the area and use them to tell the story of the prehistoric inhabitants of Rice County and the Rice County region.
- Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and his 1541 visit to Rice County. While searching for Cibola and the Seven Cities of Gold, this Spanish Conquistador spent over a month with the Quivira Indians in Rice County. While he did not find what he was looking for, Coronado and his followers left an impact on the Quivira.
- The Santa Fe Trail and its progress through Rice County. This commerce trail which began in 1820 passed through the middle of Rice County, bringing Americans, Mexicans and Native Americans into close contact for the purpose of trade. We have several important Santa Fe Trail sites in the county, including some of the best preserved trail ruts to survive to the modern day.
- Rice County development at the turn of the 20th century. How did Rice County get its name? What were some of the main occupations of Rice Countians? What was life like in 1902? We explore all of these issues and more in our Rice County 1902 exhibit.
The Coronado Quivira Museum exists to collect and preserve the history of Rice County. Potential donations must reflect the culture, lifestyle and history of Rice County and meet additional standards as set forth in the Collections Management Policy before approval by the Collections Committee. If you have an item you would be interested in submitting for consideration by the committee, contact the Curator of Collections.
The Coronado Quivira Museum is announcing a new podcast series! We have uncovered a treasure-trove of research about Rice County's various salt mining operations, and we simply couldn't tell all of the great stories in our Smithsonian Companion exhibit By The Sweat of Their Brows: The Men, Mechanics and Science of Salt. To give some of those stories a chance to be heard, museum staff are working on a podcast series. The podcast will be available from our website and from I-Tunes Music Store.
501 c 3 status. Board of Directors
The Coronado Quivira Museum hosts a research library including an extensive collection of research and writings on historic topics relevant to Rice County history. The library is open during museum hours. Museum admission is required of non-county residents and non-RCHS members to use the research library.
Staff of the museum can perform research when requested, utilizing the full extent of museum archival and photographic collections. Fees for this service are listed on our website. To submit a research request, contact the museum at 620-257-3941 or e-mail
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members
Appointment required: Yes
Quarterly newsletter
Want to get an inside look at the Coronado Quivira Museum? Check out our blog! You'll get an inside look at the museum's operations, special activities and stay up to date on all the latest information. Find it at http://cqmuseum.wordpress.com
Tours of county historic sites are available from mid-May to mid-October, weather permitting. Contact the museum at 620-257-3941 or e-mail museum[at]cqmuseum.org to book your tour. All tours must be book at least 48 hours in advance.
Group Tours
ADA compliant
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
Restrooms
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