Dr. James Naismith invented the game of "Basket Ball" in 1891. Join us as we hear Dr. Naismith himself in a historical reenactment by Kansas City historian Bill Nicks, recounting Naismith's life and his invention of the game. We'll learn about his education, philosophy, family, military service, coaching at KU and more. He will join us on the bus to see his Lawrence homesites, where KU played its first home game, Naismith's memorial and his and Phog Allen's graves. Then our final stop will be KU's Booth Family Hall of Athletics and the DeBruce Center where we'll view the "Original Rules of Basket Ball" and enjoy lunch before returning home. 

Tuesday, June 27 

9:00 a.m. - Exclusive presentation at the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence

 9:40 a.m. - Guided Bus Tour 

11:30 a.m. - Lunch at DeBruce Center 

1:00 p.m. - Return to the Osher Institute 

$125 fee includes coach transportation, guided tour and presentation and lunch. 

Refunds will be honored on or before June 12 minus a $40 administrative fee.

Join us as we experience the natural wonder and rich history of the Kansas Flint Hills with Rex Buchanan providing onboard commentary about geology, local history, culture, ranching and the Santa Fe Trail. We'll visit the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve where a National Park ranger will guide us on a short hike through this rare remnant of the tallgrass prairie and its grand vistas. While there, we'll also visit the 11-room Jones Family limestone mansion built in 1881, its historic barn and the one-room Fox Creek School. 

Then it's on to Council Grove and lunch at the historic Hays House. Afterwards we'll enjoy an exclusive presentation and tour of the newly restored Kaw Mission State Historic Site and visit the Last Chance Store, an old trading post built in 1857. We'll be joined by a local historian as we drive to Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park to see the Kanza Monument, a 35-foot limestone tower erected in 1925 in memory of the Kanza's presence in the area. Finally, we'll discuss the history of the Kaw Nation's I 'zh je 'waxóbe, a sacred red rock soon to be moved from Lawrence to the park. 

Friday, June 23 

7:00 a.m. - Coach departs the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park and returns 8:30 p.m. 

8:00 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence and returns 7:30 p.m. 

A $175 fee includes coach transportation, exclusive presentations, guided tours, museum fees, snacks, and lunch.

Refunds will be honored on or before June 8 minus a $65 administrative fee. 

Special event presented by Brandon Woods at Alvamar 

Osher members are invited to attend a special appearance by George and Martha Washington as reenacted by nationally known performers William and Sue Wills, presenting the personal side of our country's first couple. The Wills have toured the nation for 26 years reenacting 35 presidential couples. Did a marriage of convenience lead to our "First" First couple? If true love wasn't the spark of the marriage, it certainly grew as Martha shared the struggles of George during the Revolution and then his Presidency. This event is free to Osher members as a gift from our partner, Brandon Woods at Alvamar. Refreshments will be served. Limit 40.

Thursday, July 13 

10 a.m. - noon 

Brandon Woods at Alvamar 

1501 Inverness Dr, Lawrence, KS 

No admission fee, but reservations are required by completing the Osher registration form.

Special event presented by Brandon Woods at Alvamar 

Osher members are invited to attend a special appearance by George and Martha Washington as reenacted by nationally known performers William and Sue Wills, presenting the personal side of our country's first couple. The Wills have toured the nation for 26 years reenacting 35 presidential couples. Did a marriage of convenience lead to our "First" First couple? If true love wasn't the spark of the marriage, it certainly grew as Martha shared the struggles of George during the Revolution and then his Presidency. This event is free to Osher members as a gift from our partner, Brandon Woods at Alvamar. Refreshments will be served. Limit 40. 

Thursday, July 13 

2-4 p.m.

Brandon Woods at Alvamar 

1501 Inverness Dr, Lawrence, KS 

No admission fee, but reservations are required by completing the Osher registration form.

Friday, August 4 

8 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Dr., Lawrence and returns by 4 p.m. 

9 a.m. - Coach departs Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park and returns by 3 p.m. 

$135 fee includes coach transportation, tour guide, and lunch. 

Refunds will be honored on or before July 20 minus a $50 administrative fee.

Welcome to the 14th annual KU Mini College! This is an educational event for inquisitive adults offered in partnership with KU's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. KU Mini College is a beloved program that has continued to bring adult community members, alumni, and non-alums from all over the world to the KU Lawrence campus to attend presentations from KU faculty and other professionals on current topics of interest. This year's event will be held on campus with most events being held at Burge Union. Our 3 day lecture series will feature many of KU's outstanding professors and faculty as well as an opportunity to tour the Dole Institute, Natural History Museum and Spencer Museum of Art. Tours have limited space and require pre-registration at no additional cost. Attendees will have time to explore the Lawrence campus and visit with friends old and new!

Join us for an Osher Independence Day as we explore the legacy of Harry Truman with a visit to the newly renovated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence. Through engaging exhibits and access to historical materials, the library aspires to keep President Truman's life and legacy alive, emphasizing his ideals of citizenship, learning and service. We'll drive by the Truman and Noland houses with our step-on guide before enjoying lunch at The Court House Exchange, which has been serving burgers since 1899. Then we'll stop by Vaile Mansion built in 1881 for our guided tour of the 31-room mansion with 9 marble fireplaces, a built-in 6,000-gallon water tank and a 48,000-gallon wine cellar. This mansion, one of the best examples of Second Empire style architecture in the U.S., is sure to delight! Our last stop will be the 1859 Jail Museum. We'll stroll through the big house and explore the old lockdown with tour guide. Jim Peters joins us on the bus for Truman commentary along the way.

Friday, July 14 

7:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence and returns 6:00 p.m. 

8:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park and 5:00 p.m. 

$165 fee includes coach transportation, exclusive presentations, guided tours, museum fees, and lunch.

Refunds will be honored on or before June 29 minus a $60 administrative fee.

See what's new at the Spencer Museum of Art. The $4 million project includes a complete reimagining of the Spencer's 48,000-object collection. The guided tour begins in the Debut gallery on the main floor to view new artwork and exhibits and explore the Brosseau Learning Center. Enjoy the airy, new redesign of the 4th floor as we tour the newly re-installed galleries to visit several exhibitions, including Intersections, Illumination, Displacement, and Empowerment and Dissent, Discontent, and Action: Pictures of U.S. by Accra Shepp located on the Marshall Balcony. After the tour we'll enjoy a catered lunch while Osher instructor Janice Stuerzl reviews the major periods of European art history, providing valuable context for the objects we viewed. 

Tuesday, June 20 

9:30 a.m. - Leave St. Andrews 

10:00 a.m. - Arrive Spencer Museum of Art

12:00 p.m. - Lunch at St. Andrews with exclusive presentation 

1:15 p.m. - Depart St. Andrews 

$80 fee includes transportation, guided tour, lunch, and exclusive presentation by Janice Stuerzl 

Refunds will be honored on or before June 5 minus a $25 administrative fee.

Voted "Favorite Kansas City Hidden Gem" by Visit KC, the Arabia Steamboat Museum is one of Kansas City's most popular attractions. We'll enjoy a guided tour of the largest single collection of pre-Civil War artifacts in the world, featured by National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian Magazine, PBS, Antiques Roadshow, Good Morning America, Southern Living, CNN, and the History Channel. What was discovered when the Arabia sank will amaze you! With more than 200 tons of treasure on display, the museum brings history and science to life. Before departing we'll browse the gift shop where you can discover your own treasures. 

Next, we'll head to the World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial to enjoy lunch at the Over There Café before a docent-guided tour through one of the world's largest collections of World War I artifacts. We'll experience the Great War through the eyes of those who lived it with interactive displays, thought-provoking films and eyewitness testimonies. We'll also have time to visit the museum store with its great collection of WWI-themed creations. 

Friday, July 28 

8:15 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence and returns 6:30 p.m. 

9:15 a.m. - Coach departs the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park and returns 5:30 p.m. 

$155 fee includes coach transportation, museum fees, guided tours, and lunch at the museum.

Refunds will be honored on or before July 13 minus a $60 administrative fee.