Editing Russell, Kansas (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Fossil Station Museum.jpg|thumb|The Fossil Station Museum (2011)]]

===Arts and music===
Located downtown, the Deines Cultural Center is a non-profit art gallery that hosts exhibits featuring the work of local and regional artists. Its permanent collections consist of paintings by [[Birger Sandzén]] and the wood engravings of local artist E. Hubert Deines. In addition, the center also hosts concerts, recitals, lectures, readings, and workshops.<ref>{{cite web | title = About Deines Cultural Center | publisher = The Deines Cultural Center | url = http://www.deinesculturalcenter.org/about.html | access-date = 2010-12-04}}</ref> The Center opened in 1990 with the Deines family's donation of its building, the Deines engravings, and a cash endowment to the city of Russell.<ref>{{cite web | title = History | publisher = The Deines Cultural Center | url = http://www.deinesculturalcenter.org/history.html | access-date = 2010-12-04}}</ref>

===Ad Astra Music Festival===

In the month of July, Russell hosts the Ad Astra Music Festival, a concert series featuring student and professional artists from all over the United States and the world.  Music performed ranges from classical to contemporary compositions and jazz.  The festival was started in 2015.

===Events===
The city hosts the annual Russell County Free Fair during the last week of July.<ref name=Chamber>{{cite web | title = Annual Events: Russell Kansas Area | publisher = Russell Area Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.russellks.org/annual.html | access-date = 2010-10-26}}</ref> Sponsored by local businesses and organizations, the Fair includes a [[4-H]] livestock sale, carnival, live music, and other entertainment.<ref>{{cite web | title = Russell County Fair 2010: Entertainment | publisher = Russell County Free Fair | url = http://russellfair.org/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090827160123/http://www.russellfair.org/index.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = August 27, 2009 | access-date = 2010-10-26}}</ref> Other annual events include the annual Blarney Stone Hunt, the [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] Freedom Fireworks Celebration, Bricks, Broncs & BBQ and Flatland Car & Cycle Show the first weekend in October, the Lighted Christmas Parade, and Weihnachtsfest, a [[Christmas]] festival held the second Saturday in December for over 25 years.

Every ten years since 1941, Russell has held Prairiesta, a festival commemorating the city's foundation and celebrating its heritage. Held in June, the festival includes a parade, carnival rides, live music, arts and crafts exhibits, and a historical pageant.<ref>{{cite web | title = Prairiesta 2011 | publisher = Russell Prairiesta 2011 | url = http://www.prairiesta.com/ | access-date = 2010-10-26}}</ref>

===Points of interest===
The Fossil Station Museum, also located in downtown Russell, displays artifacts from Russell County history dating back to the mid-1800s. Home to the Russell County Historical Society, the museum is housed in the former sheriff's office and county jail, a fortress-like structure constructed of native “post rock” limestone in 1907.<ref>{{cite web | title = Fossil Station | publisher = Russell County Historical Society | url = http://www.rwisp.com/rchs/Fossil_Station/fossil_station.html | access-date = 2010-12-04}}</ref>

The Russell County Historical Society has restored and maintains two examples of early limestone homes built in Russell, the Gernon House and the Heym-Oliver House. The Gernon House was built in 1872 by blacksmith Nicholas Gernon, one of the town's original settlers, and doubled as a smithery.<ref>{{cite web | title = Gernon House | publisher = Russell County Historical Society | url = http://www.rwisp.com/rchs/Gernon_House/gernon_house.html | access-date = 2010-12-04}}</ref> The Heym-Oliver House was built by settler Nicholas Heym in 1878.<ref>{{cite web | title = Heym-Oliver House | publisher = Russell County Historical Society | url = http://www.rwisp.com/rchs/Heym-Oliver_House/heym-oliver_house.html | access-date= 2010-12-04}}</ref>

The Oil Patch Museum, located just north of I-70 Exit 184, houses exhibits on area geology and the history of local [[petroleum]] drilling, production, and transportation.<ref>{{cite web | title = Area Attractions: Russell Kansas Area | publisher = Russell Area Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.russellks.org/attractions.html | access-date = 2010-12-04 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727225241/http://www.russellks.org/attractions.html | archive-date = 2011-07-27 }}</ref>

===Libraries===
The Russell Public Library, located downtown on West Wisconsin (6th) Street, is the city's main library. A member of the Central Kansas Library System, it has a collection of more than 32,000 volumes.<ref>{{cite web | title = Russell Public Library | publisher = Central Kansas Library System | url = http://ww2.ckls.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152&Itemid=162 | access-date = 2011-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Russell Public Library - Russell, KS | publisher = lib-web-cats - A directory of libraries throughout the world | url = http://www.librarytechnology.org/lwc-displaylibrary.pl?RC=18194 | access-date = 2011-03-20}}</ref> The library opened in 1901 and expanded into a [[Carnegie library]] in 1907, finally moving to its current facility in 1962.<ref>{{cite web | title = History of Russell Public Library | publisher = Central Kansas Library System | url = http://www.ckls.org/histories/russell.html | access-date = 2011-03-20}}</ref>