Be an active historian - Become a MEMBER!
Founded in 1994
Our mission is to collect, preserve, research, educate the public about, and exhibit the history of Overland Park, Kansas, and the surrounding area from 1850 to the present.
In 1998 our organization occupied the historic Strang Carriage House, a limestone structure built circa 1914 by the founder of Overland Park, William B. Strang, Jr., to house his vehicles and chauffeur. On June 10, 2017, the Society was proud to open their Overland Park Heritage Center, located inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center at 8878 Metcalf. This dynamic 1200 sq. ft. space provides visitors the opportunity to discover Overland Park’s past, from the Strang era to today, via a series of eye- catching and informative displays and exhibits.
In November of 2018 we relocated our headquarters to a larger space located at 7319 W. 79th St. in the Overland
Center. We are excited about our future and growing membership!
Benefits of Membership
Members not only help support the organization with their dues, but also receive a bi-monthly newsletter with
interesting articles and information on upcoming events and bi-monthly meetings where knowledgeable speakers
present a wide variety of programs related to history. Members also have the opportunity to be involved with the
Society by serving on the Board, as Officers, as docents, and by helping in the sales of our books, puzzles, posters,
DVD’s, and other products. Our members also celebrate socially with an annual July indoor picnic and December
holiday dinner.
Founded in 1994
Our mission is to collect, preserve, research, educate the public about, and exhibit the history of Overland Park, Kansas, and the surrounding area from 1850 to the present.
In 1998 our organization occupied the historic Strang Carriage House, a limestone structure built circa 1914 by the founder of Overland Park, William B. Strang, Jr., to house his vehicles and chauffeur. On June 10, 2017, the Society was proud to open their Overland Park Heritage Center, located inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center at 8878 Metcalf. This dynamic 1200 sq. ft. space provides visitors the opportunity to discover Overland Park’s past, from the Strang era to today, via a series of eye- catching and informative displays and exhibits.
In November of 2018 we relocated our headquarters to a larger space located at 7319 W. 79th St. in the Overland
Center. We are excited about our future and growing membership!
Benefits of Membership
Members not only help support the organization with their dues, but also receive a bi-monthly newsletter with
interesting articles and information on upcoming events and bi-monthly meetings where knowledgeable speakers
present a wide variety of programs related to history. Members also have the opportunity to be involved with the
Society by serving on the Board, as Officers, as docents, and by helping in the sales of our books, puzzles, posters,
DVD’s, and other products. Our members also celebrate socially with an annual July indoor picnic and December
holiday dinner.
Become an Overland Park Historical member in 2022
ARE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WORTH MAKING?
By Suzee SoldanEls Oberg
According to what I have read, most people who make resolutions give up on them before summer. That is good news for the tobacco, liquor, and diet pill industries to name a few of those affected by those common resolutions to quit bad habits and/or lose weight. Perhaps it’s just as well since the first mentions of celebrating New Year’s is actually 4,000 years old and began with the ancient Babylonians on their new year which began in March, when crops were planted, and the resolutions made then were vows to pay debts and return borrowed farm equipment. Both were worthy vows 4 millennia ago and intended to curry favor with the gods. The recipients of those debts and the return of their loaned out equipment had to be grateful as well. HOWEVER, if today’s population all paid their debts and returned borrowed equipment, the hardware stores would lose business since, for example, no one would be buying power tools because theirs were suddenly returned by their neighbors and Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Amex, not to mention any banks, which would be glutted with cash and wouldn’t have any interest income. The economy would be in a whole bunch of trouble, aside from the obvious fact that the population wouldn’t be in debt if they had the wherewithal to pay cash to begin with. Mind boggling to say the least. So what might have worked in ancient Babylonia or even ancient Rome, where citizens made promises to their god Janus when their new year began that they named January in his honor, is not relevant or humanly possible in the present.
The most common failure for resolutions in the 21st century is the unrealistic goals one might set. A study in 2007 showed that 88 percent fail to follow through on those goals. The answer and an example might be that instead of resolving to lose 30 pounds, a resolution to lose 10 might be doable and work in your favor. Actually, the best resolutions would be volunteering to help some of your favorite organizations like the Overland Park Historical Society, practicing positive thinking, laughing often, and enjoying life.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!
Membership dues support the Society's exhibits, events and community education programs.
Make 2022 Historic - Become a Member!
Annual membership dues are for the calendar year, January 1 through December 31. All new members who join after September 1, will be deemed to have paid dues for the following year.
Membership Type Dues
Individual $30.00 (Annually)
Family $50.00 (Annually)
Business $100.00 (Annually)
Individual Life $600.00 (One-time payment based on age. See table below.)
Family Life $750.00 (One-time payment based on age. See table below.)
Business Life $1,000.00 (One-time payment)
ARE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WORTH MAKING?
By Suzee SoldanEls Oberg
According to what I have read, most people who make resolutions give up on them before summer. That is good news for the tobacco, liquor, and diet pill industries to name a few of those affected by those common resolutions to quit bad habits and/or lose weight. Perhaps it’s just as well since the first mentions of celebrating New Year’s is actually 4,000 years old and began with the ancient Babylonians on their new year which began in March, when crops were planted, and the resolutions made then were vows to pay debts and return borrowed farm equipment. Both were worthy vows 4 millennia ago and intended to curry favor with the gods. The recipients of those debts and the return of their loaned out equipment had to be grateful as well. HOWEVER, if today’s population all paid their debts and returned borrowed equipment, the hardware stores would lose business since, for example, no one would be buying power tools because theirs were suddenly returned by their neighbors and Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Amex, not to mention any banks, which would be glutted with cash and wouldn’t have any interest income. The economy would be in a whole bunch of trouble, aside from the obvious fact that the population wouldn’t be in debt if they had the wherewithal to pay cash to begin with. Mind boggling to say the least. So what might have worked in ancient Babylonia or even ancient Rome, where citizens made promises to their god Janus when their new year began that they named January in his honor, is not relevant or humanly possible in the present.
The most common failure for resolutions in the 21st century is the unrealistic goals one might set. A study in 2007 showed that 88 percent fail to follow through on those goals. The answer and an example might be that instead of resolving to lose 30 pounds, a resolution to lose 10 might be doable and work in your favor. Actually, the best resolutions would be volunteering to help some of your favorite organizations like the Overland Park Historical Society, practicing positive thinking, laughing often, and enjoying life.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!
Membership dues support the Society's exhibits, events and community education programs.
Make 2022 Historic - Become a Member!
Annual membership dues are for the calendar year, January 1 through December 31. All new members who join after September 1, will be deemed to have paid dues for the following year.
Membership Type Dues
Individual $30.00 (Annually)
Family $50.00 (Annually)
Business $100.00 (Annually)
Individual Life $600.00 (One-time payment based on age. See table below.)
Family Life $750.00 (One-time payment based on age. See table below.)
Business Life $1,000.00 (One-time payment)
* To use these tables, locate the individual’s age or the younger of the spouses’ age. The one-time
Life Membership. Dues amount is to the right of age.
Life Membership. Dues amount is to the right of age.
