May
3
5:00 PM17:00

Restoration of the 1859 Jail Museum and the Future of the Howard Schoolhouse

May is National Historic Preservation Month, and we are happy to share our restoration progress with you!  Join us at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at the 1859 Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO for a short presentation about The 1859 Jail's restoration and the future of the one-room Howard School which occupies our courtyard. 

Presentations will be made by former Jackson County Historical Society Board President and author Brian Burnes and JCHS Board Member Jason Wade, who is JCHS’s Volunteer Curator. This free event is part of the City of Independence’s Historic Preservation Month series. 

The 1859 Jail is owned and operated by the Jackson County Historical Society. Visit our website at https://www.jchs.org/ for more information.

For more information about other Historic Preservation Month events around Independence, please visit: www.independencemo.gov/events

View Event →

JCHS 2025 Annual Dinner
Mar
28
6:00 PM18:00

JCHS 2025 Annual Dinner

Join us for the Jackson County Historical Society’s Annual Dinner. Celebrate history with a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner service, and local history awards. 

6 p.m. Cocktail Hour/Silent Auction

6:45 p.m. Welcome/ Installation of Officers

7 p.m. Dinner

7:45 p.m. Awards and Recognition

View Event →
1859 Jail Open
Dec
15
10:00 AM10:00

1859 Jail Open

The 1859 Jail Museum will be open weekends only in December for tours of the jailer’s home, the jail and the exhibit space. See the home decorated for Christmas!
On December 15, 2024 we will be closing early so that volunteers can attend a holiday celebration.

View Event →
1859 Jail Museum Closes for our Holiday Reset
Nov
1
to Dec 5

1859 Jail Museum Closes for our Holiday Reset

Beginning November 1st, 2024, the 1859 Jail Museum will be closed to the public to prepare for Living Windows on December 6th, 2024. We will be deep cleaning the museum, reseting displays, and decorating for “A Civil War Christmas”. Call or email us with any inquiries at 816-252-1892 or 1859jail@jchs.org. We will reopen for weekends in December beginning December 6th, 2024.

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
26
7:00 PM19:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
25
7:00 PM19:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
19
7:00 PM19:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
18
7:00 PM19:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Indigenous Peoples Day
Oct
14
9:00 AM09:00

Indigenous Peoples Day

  • Jackson County Historic Truman Courthouse (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The 1859 Jail Museum will be closed for Indigenous Peoples Day.

The Jackson County Historical Society recognizes all the land comprising Jackson County was once Osage Nation land. Le Soldat du Chene, Second Chief of the Osage nation was one of the principal chiefs who witnessed the signing of the treaty at Fort Osage on November 10, 1808.

Learn more about the Osage Tribe that once inhabited the lands now called Jackson County at www.jchs.org/osage-tribe

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
12
6:00 PM18:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Haunted Tours:

Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/haunted-tours-tickets-991079133367?aff=oddtdtcreator

Take a haunted tour of the 1859 Jail Museum, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO. Are you curious about the dark side of the 1859 Jail Museum? Take a one hour, nighttime tour Friday or Saturday the first two weekends of October and hear about the deaths that have happened on the property and the paranormal occurrences that have happened since. We discuss adult themes of murder, death and hanging; so these tours are for ages 13 and older. Tickets are $30 each. There are three time slots from which you can choose. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable. You’ll get a tour of the Jail property, learn about the building’s history and the paranormal happenings. We are partnered with a local paranormal group, Paranormal Activity Investigators.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
11
6:00 PM18:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Haunted Tours:

Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/haunted-tours-tickets-991079133367?aff=oddtdtcreator

Take a haunted tour of the 1859 Jail Museum, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO. Are you curious about the dark side of the 1859 Jail Museum? Take a one hour, nighttime tour Friday or Saturday the first two weekends of October and hear about the deaths that have happened on the property and the paranormal occurrences that have happened since. We discuss adult themes of murder, death and hanging; so these tours are for ages 13 and older. Tickets are $30 each. There are three time slots from which you can choose. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable. You’ll get a tour of the Jail property, learn about the building’s history and the paranormal happenings. We are partnered with a local paranormal group, Paranormal Activity Investigators.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
5
6:00 PM18:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Haunted Tours:

Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/haunted-tours-tickets-991079133367?aff=oddtdtcreator

Take a haunted tour of the 1859 Jail Museum, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO. Are you curious about the dark side of the 1859 Jail Museum? Take a one hour, nighttime tour Friday or Saturday the first two weekends of October and hear about the deaths that have happened on the property and the paranormal occurrences that have happened since. We discuss adult themes of murder, death and hanging; so these tours are for ages 13 and older. Tickets are $30 each. There are three time slots from which you can choose. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable. You’ll get a tour of the Jail property, learn about the building’s history and the paranormal happenings. We are partnered with a local paranormal group, Paranormal Activity Investigators.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Jail Haunts
Oct
4
6:00 PM18:00

Jail Haunts

Weekend nights in October, hear about the gruesome history of the 1859 Jail Museum. Some nights are strictly history tours, some nights are paranormal investigations.

Haunted Tours:

Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/haunted-tours-tickets-991079133367?aff=oddtdtcreator

Take a haunted tour of the 1859 Jail Museum, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO. Are you curious about the dark side of the 1859 Jail Museum? Take a one hour, nighttime tour Friday or Saturday the first two weekends of October and hear about the deaths that have happened on the property and the paranormal occurrences that have happened since. We discuss adult themes of murder, death and hanging; so these tours are for ages 13 and older. Tickets are $30 each. There are three time slots from which you can choose. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable. You’ll get a tour of the Jail property, learn about the building’s history and the paranormal happenings. We are partnered with a local paranormal group, Paranormal Activity Investigators.

Paranormal Investigations

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-tickets-991100025857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in investigating the old Jackson County Jail, 217 N. Main St., Independence, MO? Grab your ticket to this intimate event! We are partnered with P.A.I., Paranormal Activity Investigators, for our 1859 Jail Haunts. Each night, on Fridays and Saturdays, the third and fourth week of October, we will have one private investigation. These five-hour events are limited to 20 people per night and are for those ages 18 and older. You’ll get a quick history tour from JCHS and then we turn out the lights for a real paranormal investigation. PAI will bring equipment for patrons to use, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment as well. Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing. Site is not ADA compliant and surfaces are uneven. Tickets are non-refundable and non transferable.

View Event →
Polly's Pop Fest
Jun
29
4:00 PM16:00

Polly's Pop Fest

What’s Polly’s Pop Popfest? It’s a new festival celebrating all things POP. You will find popcorn, popsicles, pop music, pop culture, cake pops, etc. We will also have things that go POP, like water balloons and bubbles to name a few with relay races and games for kids and adults. We introduce this festival in the year that Polly’s Pop celebrates 101 years since the brand first started. Food and Drink locations will be celebrating with unique offerings featuring the flavors of Polly’s Pop. They have become an iconic brand in the craft soda industry and we are popping off about their start here in Independence.

Event by the Independence Square Association.

View Event →
Open late for Wine, Brew & Spirits TOO!
Jun
7
5:00 PM17:00

Open late for Wine, Brew & Spirits TOO!

The Independence Square is hosting “Wine, Brew and Spirits TOO!”.

JCHS will be outside the 1859 Jail Museum and the museum will be open late for self guided tours.

Swirl, sip and stroll in and out of various business locations during our 9th Annual event to benefit the Independence Square.

Stroll the historic Independence Square Friday, June 7 from 6-9pm (VIP ticket holders start at 5pm) while sampling local and regional wine, brews, and spirits. Bring a lawn chair to set up your "base camp" and enjoy live music, food and carefully curated vendors in the Wine Garden on Liberty Street. With 15+ tasting locations you and your friends are sure to have a fun night out.
After the walk ends, hang around for live music at 3 Trails Brewing and at the outdoor patio Between the Bricks at Courthouse Exchange. Tickets start at just $25.

View Event →
Truman Trivia
May
4
6:00 PM18:00

Truman Trivia

A fun night of Harry S. Truman trivia on the the historic independence Square with the Jackson County Historical Society.

In honor of Truman Day, the Jackson County Historical Society is hosting Truman Trivia. Truman Day is celebrated each year on the Independence Square, the Saturday before Harry S. Truman's birthday. Teams of 4 will compete against each other to see which team knows the most about Harry S. Truman. The winners will recieve a prize!

Only one ticket is needed for a team of 4 players.

All ages event.

View Event →