Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop Family Fun Nights

From farming, the blacksmithing, to home life, and of course... Stagecoaches... Mahaffie is a wonderful historic outing to remember life in the 1800s. This summer, enjoy FREE Family Fun Nights every Thursday night in June & July!

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm: 1200 East Kansas City Road Olathe, KS. 913.971.5111

Admission: Admission varies with seasons and events. On Thursday evenings in June & July admission is free. Visit their site for additional Admission Information.

Hours: Wednesday through Saturday: 10am-4pm; Sundays: 12pm-4pm; Open Late Thursdays in the Summer 6-8pm (FREE Admission on Thursday evenings)

Thursday Family Fun Nights at Mahaffie:

Admission is FREE on Family Fun Nights, but there is a charge for some activities *noted below with $.

• June 7 Kansas Cowboys 5-8p.m. Saddle up Cowboys and Cowgirls and experience the life of a Kansas Cowboy! Try your hand at roping, visit the Chuckwagon and take a stagecoach ride (watch out for those robbers!) Make a brand ($), and leather stamping ($).
• June 14 Horse Power and 1860s Recreation 5-8 p.m. Learn all about horses by visiting the grooming station, get a close up look at draft power with the site's horse treadmill and see why Mr. Mahaffie was a successful farmer. After helping with the horses, play 1860s games such as croquet, graces or rolling hoops. Learn about a Thaumatrope and make one to take home with you ($).
• June 21 Modern Marvels 5-8p.m. The 19th Century was a prime time for many modern inventions.  Learn about the science of the cannon and telegraph and shoot rubberband cannons.  Make something to take home in the blacksmith shop ($), make a paddle boat ($).  As always, see what's cooking on Mrs. Mahaffie's stove, try your skills at a variety of games typically played by children in the 19th century, and don't forget a stagecoach ride around the site!
• June 28 19th Century Fireworks! 5pm-dark Enjoy a concert by the Olathe Civic Band at 7:30 p.m. and stay for the 19th Century Fireworks beginning at dark (approximately 9:30 p.m.) Enjoy an 1860s baseball game at 6:30 p.m. Show your American spirit by decorating your bicycle, wagon, or stroller to join our parade on the Mahaffie grounds at 7:00 p.m. Bring your picnic, chairs and blankets to kick off Independence Day!
• July 5 Hit the Trails 5-8p.m. Learn about the travelers on the Oregon, Santa Fe and California Trails. Pan for gold ($), write in an Oregon Trail Diary ($), and learn about what a Bullwhacker did on the Santa Fe Trail.
• July 12 Border War Showcase 5-8p.m. It was a time of uncertainty on the Kansas/Missouri Border when Kansas Territory was opened for settlement in 1854. Learn about a soldier's life in camp, write a letter home ($), and walk through an artillery drill. Other Civil War era sites from around the KC metro will be on hand to encourage learning more about life on the border.
• July 19 and July 26 Kansas Farming  5-8p.m. (wheat harvest tentative for 7/26); 5-8 p.m. At their core, the Mahaffie's were farmers.  Learn more about 19th Century farming including the crops they grew and methods they used.  Make something to take home in the blacksmith shop ($), grind corn to feed the animals ($), and try your hand at sawing wood.  As always, see what's cooking on Mrs. Mahaffie's stove, try your skills at a variety of games typically played by children in the 19th century, and don't forget a stagecoach ride around the site!

Our Visit to Mahaffie:

     A visit to Mahaffie is always fun, but I strongly recommend visiting during a special event so you can participate in history firsthand for the most memorable experience. We participated in the Farm Life program during a Thursday evening in June (previous summer), and we plan to return again this year for more fun!

    We began our visit to Mahaffie with a tour of the Mahaffie home. Volunteers in period attire guided us through the house where we learned about the stagecoach stop and the early history of Kansas, and participated in chores with the children as the girls helped churn butter and try on period outfits.

   Outside, we were able to visit the Mahaffie garden, pet the animals, and help grind corn and feed the chickens. The children learned about pioneer farming and planted their own sunflowers. Emily's favorite activity was helping with leather work in making a harness for the goats on the farm.

   At Mahaffie our girls enjoyed working in the blacksmith shop! Emily was very proud to make her own S Hook and work with the tools in the Blacksmith shop under close supervision and helpful instruction.

   A visit to Mahaffie wouldn't be complete without a Stagecoach ride, the Grande Finale of our trip and highlight for both girls. They were excited to enjoy a summer ride through the farm, where last winter we'd ridden through the snow in a Horse Drawn Sleigh (watch for this opportunity again next winter).

You Might Also Like:

• Missouri Town 1855
• Independence Missouri: Going West & Log Cabins
• Wornall House: Day-to-Day Life in the 1800s
• Shoal Creek