Featured Exhibits
Special Exhibits
96: Bob Dole’s Campaign for the Presidency
Opening October 6 in the Elizabeth Dole Gallery & Reading Room
Thirty years ago, Senator Bob Dole embarked upon his third campaign for our nation’s highest office. As he accepted his Party’s nomination for President, he told crowds at the Republican National Convention that “…A presidential campaign is more than a contest of candidates, more than a clash of opposing philosophies. It is a mirror held up to America. It is a measurement of who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.”
Explore Dole’s 1996 presidential bid – from announcement tour and Senate retirement to the convention, debates, and final rallies – through rarely seen memorabilia, behind the scenes photographs, and working documents from his political collections in the Dole Institute original exhibit, ’96: Bob Dole’s Campaign for the Presidency.
Dwell in Possibility: Space Exploration in the Dole Archives
Now on display in Hansen Hall
Throughout his career in public service, Senator Bob Dole saw the rapid expansion of our nation’s space program, including the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Space Shuttle program, and the Hubble Space Telescope project.
Drawing on the themes found in the 2026-27 KU Common Book, Orbital by Samantha Harvey, this special exhibit showcases documents, photographs, and other artifacts from the Dole Archives illustrating America’s history in space exploration.
Interested in previous special exhibits at the Dole Institute?
Visit the Dole Archives website to see a selection of previous special exhibits that have been on display at the Dole Institute.
Permanent Exhibits
The Darby & Hansen Galleries
Open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Exhibits that Tell a Story
Surrounding the Dole Institute’s main halls are display cases that depict major moments of Senator Bob Dole’s life. These exhibits show and tell the story of Senator Dole’s childhood in Russell, Kansas, his service in World War II, his recovery and accession to Congress, major achievements, and his post-political career. Along the way, you’ll see unique archival objects that provide background on the Senator’s major accomplishments and the society as a whole throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall
When the Dole Institute was dedicated in 2003, over 1,000 World War II veterans joined Senator Bob Dole in being permanently displayed in the Darby Gallery. Since then, the Dole Institute has collected even more profiles from veterans who served in WWII and conflicts since. Explore this expansive database of Kansas veterans using our interactive kiosk in the Darby Gallery.
The World’s Largest Stained Glass American Flag Window & September 11 Memorial
In the south end of Hansen Hall, guests can take in the beauty of the world’s largest stained glass American flag window. Featuring over 900 unique pieces, the window was designed and installed by a group based out of St. Paul, Minnesota. Adjacent to the window are two original beams from the World Trade Center in New York, NY. Each beam was installed in Tower One, and later presented to the Dole Institute by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in appreciation for Senator Bob Dole’s work with former President Bill Clinton to develop the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.
The Dole Institute is committed to universal accessibility in all programs and resources. We are in the process of making all of our web projects fully accessible. An accessible version of the material represented on this site will be made available upon request. Please contact us at doleinstitute@ku.edu to request the material be made available in an accessible format, or for general assistance.