Only two weeks left

There is only two weeks left to see the "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War," traveling exhibition located at the Independence Historical Museum & Art Center. We have a few events still left however.
On Thursday, September 12th at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center there will be a Rebel Creek Massacre Panel discussion led by Dr. Isaias McCaffery and includes Arnold Schofield, Marsha Hayes, and Clayton Bramble. Hear about the massacred that occurred on May 15th, 1863, when 18 confederate soldiers from Jasper, MO were sent through Kansas for two reasons: recruit
Confederate soldiers, and to incite western Indians against Kansas settlers. When they reached the Verdigris river they were stalled due to rain. A band of Osage Indians came upon the group, and when the Confederates lied to the Indians about being Union Soldiers a fight broke out and one Osage Indian was killed. The band of Osage immediately went back to their tribe and gathered 200 tribesmen to chase down the 18 Confederate soldiers. Two Confederate soldiers survived, while two Osage Indians were killed.

The other event that is scheduled is a book discussion over "The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton" by Jane Smiley. The discussion will take place September 17th at 6:30pm. This discussion is part of the Kansas Humanities Council TALK Series "Before the Civil War." The Kansas Humanities Council describes the book as follows: "[S]et mostly in the Kansas Territory shortly before the Civil War, narrator Lydia "Lidie" Harkness recounts her adventures while disguised as a boy, reporting for a proslavery newspaper, and helping a woman escape a plantation." Copies of the book are available at the library. The discussion leader is Rachel Waltner Goossen, a Washburn University professor specializing in 20th century U.S. and women’s history.  She received her Ph.D. in history from the University of Kansas, and joined the KHC TALK program as a discussion leader in 2008.

The Independence Public Library also has a silent auction taking place with Civil War memorabilia. The auction will go through September 20^th, with the winners being announced Friday, September 20^th at the closing reception. There is also a hand stitched Underground Railroad quilt the museum is raffling off. Chances on the quilt is for a suggested donation of 1 for $1 or 6 for $5, with the winner being announced at the closing reception on September 20^th.