[3][4] For nearly 40 years, the Historical Society occupied a succession of quarters in the statehouse as its holdings steadily grew.

In 1984, the Kansas Museum of History moved to an 80-acre (320,000 m2) site in west Topeka near the Potawatomi Mission leaving the remaining agencies still housed in the Memorial Building.

The executive director—who is nominated by the governor and approved by the state legislature—is responsible for the Historical Society's overall governance.

The corporation offers membership to the public and institutions, manages grants for the state agency, operates the Museum Stores, and provides fiscal support for various programs, including the Historical Society's magazine, Reflections, and its scholarly journal, Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains.

[5] During the past century, the Historical Society's role expanded beyond its original emphasis on collecting and publishing research.

Through collections, exhibits, programs, and services, the Historical Society helps the public in understanding and valuing the heritage of Kansas.

[3][4] The Kansas Historical Society website was launched in 1993, through the efforts of Steven Chinn and Lynn H. Nelson.

All Kansas listings on the National Register of Historic Places are automatically included but many additional sites are just on the state registry.

The Kansas Historical Society has received several awards and honors from other organizations and associations related to the history profession:[15]