Make Marysville, Kansas your destination for Sunflower Summer!
Marysville, also known as Black Squirrel City, is a town brimming with history and charm. Four museums in Marshall County are part of this year’s Sunflower Summer program:
- Pony Express Barn & Museum
- Koester House Museum & Gardens
- Marshall County Historic Courthouse Museum
- Blue Rapids Historical Museum
While you are here, see how many of our 51 Black Squirrels on Parade you can find, cool off with free admission to the Aquatic Center, or catch a movie at the historic Astro 3 Theatre!
Don’t forget to bring your strollers and bikes along for a beautiful ride on the Blue River Rail Trail.
Marysville is made for making memories!
Pony Express Barn & Museum
106 S. 8th Street
Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Sun. 12–3 p.m.
Step into history and visit the only remaining Pony Express home station still standing on its original site. The Pony Express Barn and Museum stands as a living testament to Marysville’s rich history and pivotal role during the era of Westward Expansion. Built-in 1859-1860 by Joseph Cottrell and Hank Williams, this historic barn began as a blacksmith shop, constructed from durable native limestone to serve pioneers and travelers making their way west.
Koester House Museum & Gardens
919 Broadway
Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Sun. 1–4 p.m.
Travel back to the 1800s and experience life as Kansas pioneers did at the Koester House Museum in Marysville. This year is extra special as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Charles & Sylvia Koester, two of the community’s early settlers who helped establish businesses and shape Marysville.
- See authentic artifacts from the family’s daily life, including original clothing, stereoscopes, a piano and household furnishings.
- Explore the summer kitchen, ice house and outhouses to discover how families lived before modern conveniences.
- Wander through stunning gardens featuring one of the largest collections of white bronze statues in the United States.
- Learn what it was like to grow up, work and live in Kansas during the late 1800s.
Special events:
July 18 – Kickoff celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Koester House Museum featuring a Kansas Poet Laureate who will share a special poem created for the event. Also, a card making workshop where the poet will assist with verbiage for “love” cards that could be an anniversary card, Valentine’s card, birthday card, etc.
July 25 – 150th Anniversary Celebration at the Koester House Museum and Gardens, featuring new exhibits and artifacts. At 10:30, there will be a re-enactment with cake and refreshments. A jewelry display will be shown from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., and a kaleidoscope craft will be available for kids in the garden during open hours (or until supplies run out).
Please note: The Koester House Museum will be closed July 21-24 in preparation for the 150th anniversary celebration.
Marshall County Historic Courthouse Museum
1207 Broadway
Tues.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Sat.–Sun. 1–4 p.m.
Visit the 135-year-old historic courthouse and spend time exploring three floors with over 15 rooms of exhibits, including farming and blacksmithing tools, a Kansas license plate collection, a wedding dress display, a newspaper printing display, a trails room with a ferry replica, a military room with memorabilia from the different wars, doctor’s office with an iron lung, and more. In the impressive courtroom that can hold up to 150 people, each spectator’s seat has a wire hat holder under it.
This year’s special exhibit, “Stories Behind the Soldier” is dedicated to the veterans of Marshall County.
Blue Rapids Historical Museum
36 Public Square
Thurs. 1–5 p.m. | Sat. 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Travel a few miles south of Marysville on Highway 77 to visit another free museum in Marshall County. The Blue Rapids Historical Museum captures the history of the people and businesses of Blue Rapids. Exhibits are changed on a rotating schedule. Also featured are Oregon Trail history—including a full-sized replica of the Palace wagon used by Sarah Keyes of the Donner-Reed party—local gypsum mine histories, genealogy records, cemetery records, school photos and annuals, and reference materials.
Special events:
July 25 – Giddy-up and Gather, 1-4 p.m. Learn about roping, trapping, blacksmithing and branding. Sample cowpie cookies and more! Kansas cowboy poet and rancher, Ron Wilson, will present stories and poems exploring the rich history of cowboy culture at 3 p.m.
About Sunflower Summer
The Sunflower Summer Program is a benefit for Kansas families with school-aged children to encourage them to explore, and fall in love, with Kansas. Eligible Kansas families will download the Sunflower Summer App to claim tickets to participating venues. One (1) adult ticket is eligible for free admission with eligible students. Tickets are redeemed at participating venues upon their arrival. Each user can only use tickets once per venue during the 2026 season. The 2026 Sunflower Summer season will run from July 9 – Aug. 2.
