An exhibit on the history of the Fairfax industrial district opened today at the Wyandotte County Museum, Bonner Springs.
The exhibit will be open through Sept. 24, according to a museum spokesman.
The Fairfax Industrial District 100th Anniversary exhibit will show the progression of the district alongside personal memories, and will include familiar and untold stories of people, places and events in the district, the spokesman stated. The Fairfax district is in the northeast area of Kansas City, Kansas.
The exhibit will help visitors connect with a place where tens of thousands of residents have worked during the past 100 years, according to the spokesman. Many of the objects and stories on display were shared for this exhibit.
Visitors will see products made in Fairfax, together with items employees saved from their time in Fairfax. They can compare maps of the district, find out how long a company was in business, and look through employee newsletters and newspaper articles.
The spokesman said it is a great way for families to connect with their past and visitors are encouraged to share their memories connected to the district.
A version of the museum’s exhibit also will be highlighted at the Fairfax Festival on Oct. 6 as part of the larger centennial celebration brought together by the Fairfax Industrial Association.
The Fairfax Industrial District began more than 100 years ago with a vision for the future. In 1922, area property owners signed a petition to form the Fairfax Drainage Board. This move ultimately led to the area becoming one of the first planned industrial districts in the country. Through the 1920s the district became a hub for flight schools and airplane manufactures. It continued to expand with new industries despite the Great Depression. The district became a National Center of the Defense Industry during World War II, housing the North American Aviation of Kansas, B-25 plant and the Darby Corporation, which produced landing crafts, aerial bombs, and more. After the war new companies made the district their home. Since then, the Fairfax Industrial District has grown to house more than 130 companies and is still going strong.
The Wyandotte County Museum is located in Wyandotte County Park, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, Kansas. It is open to the public, free of charge, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Wyandotte County Museum is operated by the Unified Government, with support from the Wyandotte County Historical Society and Museum Inc., a 501c3 non-profit. The museum mission is to strive to identify, collect, preserve, interpret, and disseminate material and information pertaining to Wyandotte County history, in order to assist the public in understanding, appreciating and assisting in the preservation of the heritage of Wyandotte County.
For more information about this exhibit contact the Wyandotte County Museum at 913-573-5002 or visit www.wycokck.org/wycomuseum.
- Story and photos from Wyandotte County Museum
To see an earlier story about the Fairfax district’s 100th anniversary, visit www.wyandottedaily.com/fairfax-district-celebrates-100th-anniversary/.