Camp McCormick

Located on the corner of McCormick and Martinson Streets, the McCormick Building is a proud landmark of the community it has served since 1890. At that time it was a four-room structure, two rooms on the first floor and two on the second. Proudfoot and Bird were the architects for the building and William Dunscombe was the contractor. Built of stone from the Middleton quarry at Augusta, Kansas, the workmen used block and tackle with chains to lift the stones in place in the building. It is interesting to note that the stones for the Old City Building and Courthouse were brought from the same quarry at the same time.

The school was completed November 3, 1890, and was the seventeenth elementary school building in the Wichita system. The school was named for McCormick Avenue, which had been named for the John McCormick family who were early settlers.

The purpose of McCormick School Museum is to preserve the history of the Wichita public schools. The historic building is on the Natioinal Register of Historic Places and is the oldest school building still standing in the city of Wichita. This landmark has proudly served the community for more than a century. Come visit the 1890s classroom: read from McGuffy Readers and see what students used instead of a lap top. This is a journey into the past before computers, electricity or Ipods.

The museum maintains a collection of school artifacts and has an ever-growing archive of photographs and information documenting Wichita public school history. There is a print shop, a 1920s science lab, a library, and rooms full of school furniture.

The McCormick School Museum is always in need of donations and volunteers. If you would like to make a donation or volunteer please contact Paul Oberg at 316-841-6198. You can also download the "Buy A Brick" form to the left and make an inscribed paving stone to your favorite teacher, parent or youself on the pathway outside the school.

Museum Hours:

Wednesdays 9:00 to 11:00am
& the second Sunday of the month
September through June
from 2:00 to 5:00pm

Other times are available
by appointment for groups.