In the late 1960s, a former resident of Wabaunsee County, Fred Palenske, gave the citizens of Wabaunsee County the Museum and Palenske Hall.
The Museum was dedicated in the memory of Mr. Palenke's older sister, Minnie Zwanziger, who had been a lifelong resident of Wabaunsee County. A time capsule was installed on the north side of the Museum to be opened after 50 years in 2018. This beautiful stone structure was built in 1906 by the Feiden Brothers. This museum houses many excellent exhibits. One of those being tools used by stone mason, A.E. Forinash.
Palenske Hall, across the street from the Museum property, was restored as a meeting room on the ground floor and a Board of Directors room and library on the second floor of the building. The directors meet each month and the Genealogy Department is open the second Wednesday of each month, or any time by request when the museum is open. Palenske Hall is now leased to Wabaunsee County for office space.
In 1987, members and friends purchased the building south of the Museum, which was restored as an annex to the Museum. Some exhibits in the annex are Main Street, U.S.A, which includes a Shoe Cobblers Shop, General Store, Dentist's Office and Barber Shop.
Wabaunsee County Historical Society has more than 180 members and is growing.
