Encountering John Brown

A traveling exhibit exploring John Brown's life and legacy through the eyes of those who knew him.

September 4 - November 6, 2021

Learn about this radical abolitionist through his encounters with key Civil War-era figures such as Harriet Tubman and Robert E. Lee.

“Encountering John Brown” explores the history of the man who helped start the Civil War through history, firsthand accounts, and vivid illustrations of the Americans, from widely recognized to largely unknown, whose lives were altered by their encounters with the man. Utilizing expressive portraits by Kansas artist Brad Sneed, the exhibit explores Brown’s story from childhood to his execution for his role in the raid on Harpers Ferry. From his abolitionist roots in Ohio to his role in the violence of “Bleeding Kansas” to his plan to start a slave insurrection beginning with the taking of Harpers Ferry, “Encountering John Brown” follows America’s most prominent abolitionist from cradle to grave and beyond.

Be among the first to see the exhibit when it makes its debut at the Watkins Museum of History in Historic Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, September 4 – November 6, 2021.

DETAILS

Special Events

Explore even more...

Lawrence was founded in the 1850’s as the state’s center of resistance to the expansion of slavery. John Brown lived south of Lawrence and in response to the “Sacking of Lawrence”, he and his supporters killed five pro-slavery southerners in what became known as the Pottawatomie Massacre in May 1856. Learn more about Lawrence in the Bleeding Kansas era>

Add more fiery history to your visit by sampling our past:

COVID-19 VISITOR DASHBOARD

Get the current Lawrence/Douglas County COVID-19 data and information that matters to travelers at a glance here>