SVHA Accomplishments
Over The Years
​Promoting the Solomon Valley through Research, Preservation and Action.
Archive Collections

2003-2009: 
  • Community Histories – a collection of historical information related to the 24 communities located within the Solomon Valley. 
    – View  *provided on this site

2004 – current
  • Historical Writing – Valley History, a collection featuring excerpts from diaries and other writings related to the Solomon Valley. – *provided on the SVHA website – View *provided on this site
  • Places of Historical & Other Interests – a county and community list of points of interest and services aimed at supporting tourists and travel within the Solomon Valley and U.S. Highway 24. – View *provided on this site

2009 – current
  • Historical Writing – Reflections On A Common Theme, a collection featuring a variety of topics related to the 6 counties making up the Solomon Valley. – View *provided on this site
2016
  • Historical information, locations & photographs – a project collection related to the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway: A Tour of Remembrance, A Corridor of Service  – View *provided on this site
2017
  • Historical information and insight – Shared human experiences with water along the Solomon River from Glasco to Hoxie, Kansas – a project collection related to The Kansas Humanities Council’s  Kansas tour of Water/Ways, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program.

Publications & Performances

2002
  • Weaving the Common Threads of the Solomon Valley Fabric, printed by Western Books, Woodston, KS.  Copyright  2002 SV-24-HA, funded through Kansas Humanities Council

2003 – current
  • The Solomon Valley Anthology – SVHA quarterly newsletter.

2005 – 2018
  • Call for Voices – writing contests for youth and adults with winner’s work being published in the SVHA newsletter and website. 
    – View  *provided on this site

2008
  • The Story of U. S. 24 and the Solomon Valley: The Automobile, The Men, The Politics, and The Highway   Printed by Western Books, Woodston, KS. Copyright 2008, SV-24-HA.  Funded  by Kansas Humanities Council 

Performances

2002
  • Continental Harmony, composer Greg Sanders, Band Suite: Dreams and Faith: The Solomon Valley Anthology  Performed 2002, Hays, KS.

2008 – 2010
  • Story to Song Residencies with Aaron Fowler – Student engagement with community.  Performances in Glasco, Cawker City, and Stockton.

2011
  • Composer Steven Elisha, commissioned 6 movement cello suite, Solomon Valley Sketches, based on the work of Birger Sandzen.  Performed 2011, Topeka, KS.

Events & Exhibits

2002
  • Great Plains Chautauqua, From Sea to Shining Sea – Stockton, KS.

2004
  • Dedicated 24 kiosks that tell local stories through 8 rural elements, in the 24 Solomon Valley communities – kiosks developed and sponsored by SVHA.
  • Authors’ Symposium, Downs, KS -- Kansas Authors Speak:  Seeking New Audiences and New Voices in the Solomon Valley.  Presenters:  Jim Hoy, Denise Low, Robert Day, Thomas Fox Averill and Fred Whitehead.

2005
  • Discovering the Strengths and Resources Found in the Museums of the Solomon Valley –A project facilitated by Margaret (Peggy) Stanton, moving from self-assessment survey to action.  Attributes focused on: collections, exhibits, outreach, and visitor services.

2006
  • Zebulon Pike bicentennial programs – presented at Glen Elder State Park and at the Pike Monument, Delphos, KS.

2008
  • Kansas-Nebraska Chautauqua, Bright Dreams, Hard times: America in the Thirties, Beloit, KS.

2009
  • Journey Stories, featuring History of U. S. 24, Glasco, KS – in conjunction with The Kansas Humanities Council’s exclusive Kansas tour, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program. Hwy 24 history based on SVHA research.

2010
  • William Stafford’s Word: Heritage of a Simple Genius – community conversations facilitated by Denise Low and Fred Whitehead, in Downs and Hill City, KS.

2011
  • Kansas Sesquicentennial tribute – Peace Pole and Clarence Pickett marker – Visit on the north side of Glen Elder, Kansas’ city park square.

2012
  • Diversity in the Solomon Valley – a traveling exhibit co-sponsored by the Nicodemus National Historic Site.

2014, 2015
  • Midland Trail Transcontinental Highway from 1914-1926 – historical exhibit at the Sampler Festival, Wamego, KS.

2016
  • World War II Veterans Memorial Highway: A Tour of Remembrance, A Corridor of Service – Encouraged “signage” along designated, 200 mile stretch of U.S. Highway 24... a driving memorial route to our veterans including those in the Solomon Valley – in association with the Kansas Humanities Council’s initiative, The Things They Carried Home: Preservation Project.  
    –  View *provided on this site

2017
  • Robert McBratney’s 1869 diary – in conjunction with The Kansas Humanities Council’s exclusive Kansas tour of Water/Ways, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program.  Solomon Valley partner exhibit: Living Off the Water:  The Challenge to Tame and Sustain Life in the Solomon Valley.  –  View *provided on this site

2019
  • Updated and replaced all 24 kiosk inserts

Research & Workshops

2000 – current
  • Rediscover Your Heritage, Rediscover Kansas!​ – This ongoing SVHA project and promotion promotes and encourages locals and tourists alike, to venture off the inter-state highways to enjoy the routes ​our parents and grandparents traveled! 
2002
  • Sponsor: K-State Summer Service Team.  Four students interpret threads of Solomon Valley fabric for local stories.  Onsite support for Stockton Chautauqua.

2004 – current
  • Workshops for artists and writers – hosted at multiple sites within the Solomon Valley.

2004 – 2008
  • Historical Interpretation Workshops; preparing local historians to become reenactors.  – Beloit and Stockton, KS 

2005
  • Archeological Workshop, Search for Battle of Solomon Fork, 1857 – Morland, KS.

2009
  • Hosted Sunflower State Book Fair, Osborne.

2016
  • Preservation Workshops, The Things They Carried – Clay Center, Glasco, Cawker City.
Rediscover Your Heritage,
Rediscover Kansas!