Spotlight on Mexico
The New Immigrants and the American Dream exhibit comes to a close on Saturday, May 19th, with a Spotlight on Mexico event featuring one immigrant's family story of its move to Kansas City and its suburbs. Enjoy artifacts, live music, crafts, and authentic Mexican food. Great event for the whole family to enjoy and its FREE!

Date: Saturday, May 19
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: 6305 Lackman Rd in Shawnee
Fee: FREE
Registration: none required

Funky Mama in Concert June 6!
Krista Eyler’s powerful blues-drenched voice sounds like she would be right at home anywhere: singing with any of the great soul singers of the ‘60s, belting out rock n' roll, taking the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, singing folksy jug band standards, belting one out with the best of Louisiana’s Zydeco bands, or soaring over the top of a mesmerizing up-tempo gospel group. Mostly though, Funky Mama’s music is just plain fun.

Funky Mama is energy personified. She sings with an intrinsically deep rhythmic sense--a rhythm that gets kids’ attention, and Funky Mama is loaded with it. She offers powerful singing for a generation of kids who don’t often get to hear vocalists with the ability to project their voices while still retaining clarity of diction. Funky Mama has a big voice, and it’s always easy to understand the lyrics

Date: Wednesday, June 6
Time: 10 a.m. (Doors open at 9:30)
Location: 6305 Lackman Rd in Shawnee
Fee: $3 per child ($2 for members)
Registration: Advance registration is recommended by calling 913.715.2571.

Suburban Film Series at the Rio
The Johnson County Museum presents its Suburban Film Series this spring and summer in conjunction with the upcoming Bill Owens: Suburbia exhibit opening June 1. The renowned photographer, who worked for the Livermore Independent News in Livermore, California in the 1960s and 70s, took photos of neighbors and friends in the surrounding suburban area.

All films will be shown at the Rio Theatre in downtown Overland Park, 7204 W 80th Street, on Thursday evenings starting at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $5 for each film.

May 3: Over the Edge Starring Matt Dillion as one of a group of rebellious teens running wild in a planned community.
June 7: Fast Times at Ridgemont High Featuring a stable of future stars including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn, Nicholas Cage, Judge Reinhold, Anthony Edwards and Phoebe Cates as they navigate their senior year in a suburban California high school.
July 5: Edward Scissorhands Tim Burton's classic suburban romantic fantasy starring Johnny Depp, Diane Weist and Winona Ryder.
August 9: American Beauty Starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. Director Sam Mendes described this movie as "a mystery story, a kaleidoscopic journey through American suburbia."

Future Museum Home
On Thursday, November 17, 2011 the Johnson County Board of Commissioners approved a real estate purchase contract with Western Development Company to purchase the former site of the King Louie West Bowling Alley and Ice Chateau, 8788 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, for future use by the Museum Department. If you have questions about this purchase by the county click here for additional information.

The Johnson County Museum has developed a long-range master plan to increase its space needs and to grow into a national museum one phase at a time. Future plans for the building may include the museum's quest to develop a National Museum of Suburbia and a Suburban Policy Forum. Click here to view the details of this plan.

Create Camaraderie, Have Fun and Build a Team!
Looking for a unique way to bring your workgroup together? Bring them to the Lanesfield School for an experience that they won't forget! Step back to 1904 with a strict school teacher for challenging lessons with penmanship, mental arithmetic, geography and spelling in a turn of the 20th century school environment.

The Historic Site is available for a 4-hour time block between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. weekday mornings with the choice of a 30-minute or 1-hour program with a costumed guide. Maximum of 30 participants for a cost of $200 ($150 for non-profit organizations and Johnson County Departments and Agencies). Click here to download a brochure.