Museum of the Kansas National Guard

Museum/Displays Construction & Repair: Obtained, restored, and placed on exhibit a M944Al Shop Truck, a 19th Century Freight Wagon, and M35 2.5 Ton Truck.Completed restoration/re-painting of M-4 Artillery Tractor, M-5 Artillery Tractor, M-2 Half Track, and M-42 Duster.Completed restoration of M-548 Ammunition Carrier and placed it behind the M-109A5 howitzer as it was used during fire missions.Received and prepared inside exhibits for 3 new exhibit cases, two for Kansas Army National Guard Aviation, and one for the 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion in WW II.Completed and placed on exhibit a M-45 Quadmount with four machine guns printed on the 3-D printer.Accessioned and placed on display behind the M998 Hummer a 3/4 Ton Trailer.Installed two touchscreen exhibits, one on "The History of the 35th Infantry Division and one on "Deployments in the Global War on Terrorism.The Museum established a new patio engraved brick area entitled "Homefront Heroes," which is primarily dedicated to spouses of National Guardsmen and women.Constructed four new outside exhibit pads, and sidewalk access to them, as well as sidewalk access to the Reviewing Stand.Prepared 24 outside flag poles with U. S. flags for "Avenue of Flags" displays on patriotic occasions (Independence Day/Veteran's Day) and special events (Heartland Military Day and Girls in Aviation Day).Accessioned 56 artifacts and artifact collections, added 29 document files and document boxes to the Museum Library, cataloged and hled 55 additional library books and CD's, placed several new prints on exhibit, and made minor improvements to many exhibits.Reorganized, sorted, and re-stored many of the artifacts in basement storage, and updated inventory locations for them.

Museum Events:The Museum hosted the following events during the year, all open free to the public:Quarterly Luncheons - The Museum hosted three Quarterly Brown Bag Luncheons with speakers on the topics of Organizations, Mission, and Future of the l90th Air Refueling Wing", "Slavic Influences on the War in Ukraine, and "Plans and Goals for the Future of the Kansas National Guard." Heartland Military Day - The Museum hosted Heartland Military Day on l0 June 23,complete with military equipment displays, two WW II battle re-enactments, two panel presentations on the KNG Deployments in the Global War on Terrorism, to band concerts, a Vietnam War exhibit, a Pancake Feed, a Cookout Meal, and other activities.Navy Diver Reunion - The Museum hosted a meal and visit for the Naval Support Activity DaNang Annual Conference on 19 April 2023.Christmas Volunteer Luncheon & Volunteer Recognition Dinner - The Museum sponsored a Christmas Volunteer Luncheon on 20 Dec 23 and a Volunteer Recognition Dinner on 16 Sep 23 for Volunteers and Board members.Cub Scouts - The Museum is the chartering agency and sponsor for Cub Scout Pack 250, which meets monthly in the Museum when not affected by the Covid pandemic.Trunk or Treat - The Museum was a co-sponsor and the host for the Kansas National Guard Family Programs Trunk or Treat on 26 Oct 23.Retiree/State of the Guard Briefing - The Museum co-hosted with the Enlisted Assn of the Kansas National Guard and the National Guard Assn. of Kansas a Retiree/State of the Guard Briefing on 2 Mar 24.Fulltime Retiree Luncheon - The Annual Luncheon for Fulltime Topeka Area Guard Employees was held on 5 Apr 23.Korean War Day - The Museum was a co-sponsor of the annual Korean War Day/M*A*S*H observance held on 29 July 23.Vietnam Veterans Breakfast - The Museum was a co-host for the free Vietnam Veteran's Observance and Breakfast on 27 March 24.Monthly Coffees - Monthly Coffees were hosted on the first Wednesday of each month.Girls in Aviation Day - The Museum hosted, in conjunction with the Combat Air Museum, a Girl Scout Girls in Aviation Day on 23 Sep 23.Veteran's Day Breakfast - The Museum, in conjunction with the National Guard Assn of Kansas and the Enlisted Assn. of the Kansas National Guard, hosted a free Veteran's Day breakfast on Wed, 8 Nov 23.Museum Car & Truck Show - The Museum sponsored/hosted a Museum Car & Truck Show on 27 May 23.Free Veteran's Luncheon - The Museum hosted a Free Veterans Holiday Luncheon, sponsored by Lewis Toyota, on l8 Dec 23.Saturday Night Social - The Museum sponsored a Saturday Night Social on Sat, 18 Nov 23.The Museum hosted Staff Calls, Commander's Calls, Promotion Ceremonies,Officer and NCO Professional Developments, and other activities during the year.The Museum hosted NGAKS, EANGKS, 35th Division Assn Executive Committee, National Guard Hall of Fame Board and Selection Committee meetings, Cub Scout and Girl Scout meetings and campouts, history re-enactor meetings, Kaw Valley Chapter of the Military Officer Assn. meetings, a JROTC Awards Luncheon, Blue Sky Squadron meetings, Civil War Roundtable meetings, Sons of both Confederate and Union Veterans meetings, Military Order of the Purple Heart meetings, Kansas National Guard Foundation meetings, Kansas Army National Guard Recruiter meetings, and Army and Air National Guard meetings, USAR Physical Fitness Tests, retiree celebrations, etc. during the year.

Museum Operations and Attendance:The Museum of the Kansas National Guard hosted 19,348 visitors who signed the Visitor Register, and several hundred others who did not sign the register, during the year from 41 states and 1l foreign countries, utilizing Volunteer Hosts. The Museum was open 304 days from l0 a.m. until 4 p.m. for routine visitor hours and 49 additional times for events and activities for a total of 2,111 hours of volunteer host labor. The Museum has no admission charge, but accepts voluntary contributions. The Museum answered 184 internet, personal, and telephone historical inquiries pertaining to military service, unit histories, insignia, photos, etc.The Museum serves as the location for the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame and the 35th Division Hall of Fame.The Museum Libraries and archives continue to serve as research centers for soldier and unit history, as well as checkout of reading books by the public.The Museum hosts an updated website at www.kansasguardmuseum.org, which provides a history and virtual tour of the Kansas Army and Air National Guard exhibits inside and outside the Museum, as well as a Museum Facebook page.The Museum provided tours for l4 school and community groups.Museum staff provided speakers for 10 community group meetings.