HISTORY & MUSEUMS
Remembering and
HONORING Honoring Heroes
Emporia is the official founding city of Veterans Day. In 1953, Emporia celebrated the first Veterans Day a year before congress made it a National Holiday in 1954. Today, Emporia is known for its multi-day ALL VETERANS TRIBUTE CELEBRATION annually in November. Festivities include a Veterans Day Parade, Freedom Fest, Veteran Artists Exhibition, Quilts of Gratitude, and a Memorial Service to honor all veterans. Also during the month of November, take a walk downtown to see the annual VETERANS BANNER DISPLAY, a project led by the Emporia Main Street organization. Over 270 banners are displayed along Commercial Street and ESU Campus honoring veterans. At the ALL VETERANS MEMORIAL (933 S Commercial St), take a walk amongst the Tablets of Honor display, a World War II Sherman tank, a Huey helicopter, and USS Oliver Hazard Perry anchor. Also located at the All Veterans Memorial is the Vietnam Veteran Memorial and Purple Heart Memorial.
Veterans Day Parade
Historic Downtown DOWNTOWN EMPORIA was designated a Federal and State Historic District in 2012. It encompasses a total of 18 blocks centered around Commercial Street and 6th Avenue. Within this area you will find 17 architectural styles including Gothic Revival style churches and a number of Italianate-style buildings from the 1860s, built soon after Emporia was founded. 38 Emporia Community Guide
