By: HANNAH CRICKMAN
Salina Art Center
Salina Art Center Cinema is proud to host a special free preview of the locally produced documentary Minersville on Wednesday, June 4. The film tells the story of the rise and decline of Minersville, a once-thriving coal mining town near Concordia, Kansas—now a ghost town steeped in regional significance.
The evening begins with a public reception at 6:00 PM, followed by the preview at 6:30 PM and a Q&A with the filmmakers and community partners immediately after. Admission is free, but advance reservations are required for this private event. If the 6:30 preview reaches capacity, a second showing will be offered at 8:15 PM.
Minersville explores the impact of the coal industry on early Kansas settlers—particularly the use of lignite coal for heating and steam engines. Through expert interviews, a walking tour of the site, and poignant first-hand accounts, the film offers a moving portrait of courage, resilience, and the enduring legacy of rural communities.
Created by Salina Media Connection in partnership with Method Productions and supported through a Humanities for All Grant from Humanities Kansas—with additional support from the Cloud County Community Foundation, Republic County Community Foundation, Smoky Hill Museum, Kristin and John Gunn, and Salina Art Center—the Salina preview is offered free of charge to the public in celebration of local history and community collaboration.
Executive producers Greg Stephens and Tom Fleming are proud to host this special event, bringing a powerful story rooted in Kansas history to new audiences. Produced locally, the documentary premiered this spring at the Cloud County Historical Society Museum and has since shown in Belleville. The Salina preview continues this community-centered tour across North Central Kansas.
Reserve your ticket now: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=491219~324e763b-503c-450c-8c59-54007b851949&epguid=94c71b64-6119-436a-8b50-a5728e102d44&mdy=6/4/2025&
Location: Salina Art Center Cinema, 150 S. Santa Fe Ave., Downtown Salina