Everywhere I visit, I love checking out the local museum of history to learn the regional past…read more Watkins did not disappoint, and highlighted well what a visitor with limited time ought to know about the city's history really well. Perhaps a minor suggestion is the addition of signage that indicates where to start if one wants to explore and learn in chronological order, but I did figure it out and had a really nice time.

We spent at least an hour and a half here and I easily could have stayed longer but we had to move…read moreon. The Watkins Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Watkins bank and mortgage building, itself an important part of Lawrence history. They have some wonderful exhibits about the history of the city and I found the one about Quantrill's raid to be particularly interesting. Lots of fun artifacts and some interactive displays to entice children to take an interest in history too. The price is right--it's free but I would encourage visitors to leave a nice donation.

This was an interesting look into the life of Robert "Evel" Knievel. It covers his childhood to his…read moredeath. Many of the displays contain original items like his drawing of Man O'War, letters from fans, and letters he wrote for business. Many of the exhibits contain video of him and his jumps, along with the motorcycles, leathers that he wore, etc. It took us about 1.5 hours to go through. The staff at the entrance and exit were friendly. I took off one star because they'll be moving to Las Vegas.

I will start by saying GET THERE WHILE IT'S STILL HERE. I want to thank the staff for a fantastic…read morevisit and we feel very lucky to see it in person as it will be permanently closing an moving to Vegas in November. We grew up with Evel in our lives and this place is just filled with so many cool memories....and so many things I didn't know about the life of a true daredevil....definitely a highlight of our cross country adventure.

Was very educational, not a lot to it but still love learning local history. When you go, be sure…read moreto walk around the park and read all the plaques.

Since I am reading "Cloudsplitter" the biography of John Brown; I have used my past 2 weekends to…read moreexplore some related historical sites that are fundamental in the understanding of the man, Kansas and The Civil War. Last weekend I visited Lecompton, this weekend Osawatomie and The John Brown State Historical site. The park rests on the site of the Battle of Osawatomie and the main structure is a large stone building that was built around the cabin that was owned by John Brown's half sister. This is where Brown and several of his children stayed during their time in the area, carrying out raids, battles, and the famous Pottawatomie massacre. Probably no man in American history represents the duality of our country's history more than John Brown. Moral with Christian righteousness yet murderous and unforgiving in it's method of implementation. The log cabin is small yet has enough to keep one occupied for a half hour looking at artifacts and reading the exhibit panels. Make sure to climb the ladder to see the cramped attic sleeping space. $2 donation for entry is very reasonable.

This is one of KCs gems - and thankfully not so hidden. This museum was founded by 2 women - 1 with…read morea love of toys and 1 with a love of miniatures. I've visited several times and am always amazed at the popular toys from each decade and the incredible to scale miniatures. During this visit we were one of the first to attend the grand opening of the Native American miniatures exhibit. It's so cool. I recommend everyone check it out. This museum is a must visit for all ages.

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, despite being one of the bigger museums in KC, is…read morehonestly kind of a hidden gem in town. I never went before they renovated, but once they did I made my way here and immediately wondered what had taken me so long. You might think to yourself that this is for kids or on the flip side you might think that it's just for collectors - both couldn't be more untrue. The first fun thing is just the massive historic building that this place is in - if you like architecture and exploring old buildings you'll enjoy that part of it. The next thing you'll notice is that there is a ton to see here, from the ornate details of dollhouses, to miniatures that will blow your mind, to nostalgic barbies, there really is something for just about anyone. I like how you can come here to be reminded that everyone once was a kid and that toys tell a unique story about humanity in their own way. If you haven't been this is a great thing to do on a rainy day in KC. I would recommend it for older kids - maybe 10+ and for anyone who enjoys history or museums.

Had a nice morning getting my nerd on (visiting family in nearby Topeka) & learning about combat…read moreaviation. Who knew any of this stuff? I did find a plane with Boston roots (101st Tactical Fighter Squadron--The Irish Guard) from "Logan Field" c. 1962. It's scheduled to be repainted to its original markings, complete with shamrock. I also didn't realize Amelia Earhart was born in Kansas. And the irony of putting Rosie the Riveter on a kitchen apron (see the cute gift shop) isn't lost on me! A wonderful outing for history buffs all sorts! Go!

My aviation nerd boyfriend loves anything aviation so I knew we had to go here. There are huge…read morehangars and the one has planes in greater repair than the other. One hangar was like an airplane graveyard, but that was fun too because you could see how the plexiglass on the planes shattered and how the old planes were created with curved wood. They have planes like the ones Snoopy flew and giant helicopters. It don't know my plane and airplane names, but I read some of the information and I know some were used in WWI, WW11, Korea, Vietnam and etc. up until the present day. There was an upstairs level with some airplane art. I would say if you are not very mobile, you will struggle with this place because there is a lot to navigate and if you are not paying attention you could hit your head on any number of things. One of the employees told a mom not to let her kids run under the airplanes becuase they could bonk their heads. True that! One has to pay attention in this museum. My favorite part was walking into this helicopter that was built in 1965 and in service until 1988 and a gentleman who worked in this actual helicopter when it was in service was fixing it up as a volunteer. History right in front of my eyes! It's $7 to get in, a bargain!

Really enjoyed this museum and it's free. Take advantage of a nice experience to see some…read moreinteresting things. The staff is friendly and they validate your parking.

Apart from feminine hygiene products in the Men's room (who are these really for? Imho, if a man is…read morebleeding out of his holes he's got serious medical problems), the museum is a pretty nice place to visit.

I had been here once when I was in elementary school I believe. There is a parking lot around the…read morecorner but it is very pricey, your best bet is try and find a spot on the street. There is a lot to take in (4 floors worth). There is a large section of fossils that accordingly to the displays were found in KS, which is mind blowing that there were dinosaurs this close near us. I really liked the large collection of taxidermy birds that allows you to see a bunch of the local verity in person. This museum covers everything from fossils, life reptiles, germs and more. It is well worth the suggested $7 donation at the door.

First its not a donation its 7 for adults they demanded it at the door…read more You have to pay! lots and lots of stuffed animals and fossils no minerals gems rocks went through it in 15 - 20 minutes tops enjoyed UMKC better

This is a fantastic place to bring the whole family--fun for all ages! For just $9 per person (kids…read moreand adults), you get access to a huge indoor play space filled with themed areas like a veterinary clinic, grocery store, mechanic garage, painting station, dinosaur zone, and more. There are also sensory stations that encourage imagination and creative exploration. A brand-new indoor water area is set to open on June 10th, which will be an exciting addition. The outdoor space is just as impressive, featuring nature trails, a sandbox, water play area, treehouse, bikes, and more. We especially appreciated the separate toddler-only zones that keep the littlest ones safe while they play. With so much to do, we easily spent around 3 hours exploring. You're welcome to pack a lunch and enjoy it at one of the indoor picnic tables or outside in the peaceful pollinator garden. Highly recommend for a fun, interactive, and affordable family outing!

We had the greatest time here with our Grandson. He is 17 months old and played for 2 1/2 hours…read moreand could have played longer but we needed to go eat lunch. There are many activities that entertain kids and I would say up to ten maybe. Some of the areas included were painting, grocery store, a car repair shop, restaurant, water feature, air flow type activities, small area for toddlers, outdoor activities, blocks, plus many more things. I like that adults have to be with children in order to enter. We decided to go ahead and get a year long membership. With the membership I could put my grandchildren on it and they can even go with their parents if we are not with them at no charge. There are also workers spread throughout the area who are so very kind and do a great job at keeping the place picked up and organized.

Awesome place, run by an actual Veteran of foreign wars! The video was a lil long (30-45 mins), but…read morewe suggest taking in everything you can.

Easy destination and interesting. This is the conclusion to the battle of Westport that began in…read moreKC's famous bar district. Cheers.

Anyone who looks at my reviews know that a 5 is rare! This exceeded any expectation I had and I was…read moresmiling so Much my cheeks hurt. What an Immersive experience! Books were SO much a part of our parenting I was transported to such deep memories. The attention to detail! The places to sit and read incorporated throughout! We went to an Adults only event just to check It out and we have already bought tickets to take our adult kids next month!!!

This museum is exceptional! I felt like a kid again seeing my favorite storybooks come to life!…read moreEvery single nook and cranny of this space was well thought out and artistically crafted. It was nice to have places for the kids to climb and explore. And there were also spaces to rest and be quiet. I like that each book was unique on display so it wasn't the same old thing over and over again. What I really loved was that they have multiple copies of each book represented in said section. So the ones we hadn't read and were interested in, we were able to discover like The Funny Thing and The Fire Cat. And ones we were aware if were fun to read while exploring like Goodnight Moon (my absolute favorite part), Babar, Frog and Toad, and No, David! The bus ride is a must; so creative and heart warming. We didn't purchase tickets for The Three Robbers experience, but peeking inside I wish we had, it looks great. The docents and volunteers were all knowledgeable of the books. And they were very kind when needing to remind kids of the museum rules. If I lived here I would by an annual membership for sure. And would have gladly paid more than the current $16 admission as I think this experience is worth much more.