Columbian Theatre, Museum & Art Center

521 Lincoln Avenue,
Wamego, KS 66547

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SethG
SethG on August 10, 2024 at 4:22 pm

The 1896 map shows the building to be a bit shallower, and only lists a hall on the second floor. The 1905 map shows the fly tower added.

SethG
SethG on August 10, 2024 at 3:36 pm

This must have had a protracted construction. The foundation appears on the January 1892 map, but the date on the front of the building is 1895. The 1905 Cahn guide gives this a capacity of 1,000. I think the eagle on top is salvage from the Columbian Exposition (which I expect is where Rogers got the name). There are also two statues from the exposition in the city park.

Curiously, there was already a fairly large pre-1885 opera house at 5th and Elm, which is still there. The 1905 Cahn Guide calls it Leach’s, and gives a capacity of 500. It definitely contended with the Columbian early on, but the 1912 map shows it used for implement storage.