Wedding and event chapel coming to Johnson County history museum: ‘It will be a draw’
Soon, Shawnee Town 1929 will once again have a wedding chapel to host teary-eyed “I dos.”
The museum and old-time town, 11501 W. 57th St., aims to open its new chapel by next spring.
The 1,670-square-foot white building with a steeple will hold 91 people. It will sit between the old farmstead and town, which boasts an old city jail, a barbershop, grocery store, schoolhouse and more immersive exhibits reminiscent of the 1920s.
Charlie Paulter, director of the museum, said many living history museums have a designated space for weddings (take Kansas City’s Shoal Creek, for example). He’s looking forward to serving couples in Shawnee next year.
“We’re answering that call and providing a place for that,” Paulter said.
Shawnee Town’s first chapel was built in the ’80s, though that structure was considerably smaller. Over a decade ago, the old chapel came down — with Paulter adding it wasn’t in great shape. The new building, however, will be larger and sturdier.
“We saw this as an opportunity to replace that, but with a more robust structure to better serve our needs,” Paulter said.
The museum’s Town Hall hosts some events, though Paulter said most couples choose to get married offsite and have a reception there. He’s hoping the chapel will serve as a popular ceremony space, as well.
The museum began discussing reviving the old chapel a few years ago, but at the time, city leaders were concerned over the cost.
Now, it’s full-steam ahead with the chapel, which Paulter said is now projected to cost $735,000 and is funded through Shawnee’s Capital Improvement Plan.
While it’s part of a 1920s town, it will have all the modern amenities couples may desire on their wedding day: aka, HVAC and restrooms.
“It will be a very nice facility,” Paulter said. “It will be a draw for more people.”
