The Emmett Kelly Museum was organized in early 1967, operating under the auspices of the City of Sedan. An organizing committee consisting of local volunteers helped to organize and develop the plans for the museum. 
      It all began when in March of 1942, Mrs. Velma Lowery of Sedan, received a page from "The Detroit News Pictorial", from her sister. The page was filled with pictures of Emmett Kelly who had made a career of clowning, and in it stated that he was born in Sedan, Kansas. 
     Well, of course news like that in a small town just doesn't take long to get around. For years the rumors would continue. People would speak of the news, some with disbelief, some with pride that a successful man such as Emmett Kelly would hail from a small farming community, such as Sedan. Over the years, talk was made as Emmett became even more famous and popular.
 Even in the early 1950's a Sedan High school student made a report for one of their classes about  a story of Emmett's birth.
     After years of much discussion, it was decided the community should honor Emmett Kelly. A committee was established to plan how they would honor him and things they would do. It was decided with much community support that a museum should be established to collect Emmett Kelly artifacts and memorabilia. The fist co-chairmen and Sponsors of the Emmett Kelly Museum were Mr. and Mrs. Aden Lowery. A special fun day would be set aside to honor Emmett Kelly as a native son and commemorate the new museum with a ribbon cutting. 
     Special preparations were made to contact Emmett himself and to invite him as the honored guest. He graciously excepted.
     There was so much planning and preparations to be made for this special event that the main planning committee even divided into several sub committees each with specific tasks. Community leaders got involved with the project along with  numerous business leaders and community members. The community involvement was outstanding.
     The event was to be called, "Emmett Kelly Day".  A special parade would be established in a children's category called, "Clown Fun Day", with floats, marching bands, clowns and contests. Band concerts, home made ice cream social, a street dance, special kiddie movies and of course, details for food and lodging were in the works too.
     Starting on June 21, 1967 and culminating on June 23, 1967, businesses would decorate their windows and shops, city workers would decorate the town with signs, banners and pictures, towns people dressed as clowns were seen on the streets. 
     Everyone one was jubilant and excited looking forward to the visit by Emmett Kelly, the world's greatest clown to cut the ribbon to commemorate the museum and all the activities that were planned. TV, news papers and radios from around the world would be here in Sedan, Kansas to witness and record this historical event of Emmett Kelly's return to his home town.
     But, a few days before the scheduled activities, a long distance call to the museum directors, Mr. and Mrs. Aden Lowery from Emmett Kelly came. Emmett expressed his sorrow that he would not be able to make the scheduled event as planned. An attempt had been previously made to schedule his schedule within a five day period  of the event. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Plans were then discussed to wait on the formal opening of the museum untill his schedule would allow in September.
 So, the public opening of the museum and all the activities that were planned went ahead and happened on June 23, 1967, as planned. A special formal event was then planned for September.
     Emmett came to Sedan on September  , 1967 for the formal opening on the Emmett Kelly Museum. He toured the town seeing how much it had changed. He remembering the 1896 Opera house that was built just two years before his birth. He remembered the band stand and how he and his sister Sylvia would sneak out on Saturday evenings and go listen to the bands play, often without their parents permission. He chuckle to himself as he recalled the grassy field he would cross to go sneak down to the railroad tracks were his father worked,  to play and watch the trains.
     During his visit in Sedan, Emmett took time out of his day, to visit the the children in the Sedan schools. He entertained them in a joint assembly by preforming many of his "Weary Willie" clown routines. In one of his routines Emmett drew several sketch drawings and a self portrait. These drawings are still housed locally to encourage children and inspire them with visions of what they can accomplish.
     Emmett Kelly, the world's most famous clown is an inspiration to both children and adults. An unlikely hero who from humble beginnings, was born in a small town before the turn of the century, whose father was the straw boss of a railroad crew and whose mother eked out a small extra income raising chickens for eggs and cows for milk while she raised Emmett and his sister. It was with this hard work environment Emmett learned the value of family and hard work. 
     Sedan is proud to be able to claim Emmett Kelly as their native son and honor him as a hero for all the joy and laughter he brought to millions throughout his life and career.