By Heather Hagedorn
Geary County Historical Society
Junction City, KS — Geary County Historical Society has been awarded a grant from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) to support a new exhibit that focuses on the people who have helped form the Geary County community.
The project, titled “Portrait of a County”, will focus on single photos, portraits, and objects to help tell the story of the everyday Geary County resident that has helped create the community it is today. Through this effort, Geary County Historical Society aims to show that everyone’s story matters in the greater portrait of a community.
“We are grateful for Freedom’s Frontier’s continued support of our organization and our desire to share and preserve important stories relating to our community,” said Heather Hagedorn, Executive Director/Curator.
Freedom’s Frontier is a congressionally designated national heritage area that spans eastern Kansas and western Missouri, working with partners to preserve and share the stories of the region’s role in shaping the nation’s history. FFNHA provides grant funding to support projects promoting heritage tourism, historic preservation, and public interpretation.
“Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area is proud to support projects like this that bring our shared history to life,” said Lucinda Adams, FFNHA Executive Director. “By investing in local partners, we’re helping communities preserve their stories, engage new audiences, and strengthen heritage tourism across the region.”
The project is expected to be completed by August 1, 2026 with an exhibit opening from 1:00-3:30pm.