The Dole Institute Welcomes Visitors
...to a place for and about all of us.

Free Admission
Donations are always welcomed.
Monday thru Saturday
9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Sundays
Noon until 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Schedule*
The Dole Institute is closed January 1, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 & 25.

The Dole Institute has a wheelchair and motorized scooter available for visitors. Both are available on a first come, first served basis. Please call (785) 864-4900 with any questions.
*There may be an occasional special event held in Hansen Hall, i.e. Naturalization Ceremony, when the Institute may be closed to visitors for a portion of the day. Feel free to call the Institute to check: 785-864-4900 or email doleinstitute@ku.edu

Overview of the Institute

Dedicated in 2003, the Institute is home to state-of-the-art exhibits and one of the nation’s largest collections of Congressional papers, now being processed for future research use. The Institute has become a popular venue for high-profile lectures, special events, receptions, and dinners.

The Institute building designed by Kansas City architect Steve Abend consists of 28,000 square feet on two levels.

With limestone walls, soaring stained-glass windows and a 32,000 square foot reflecting pool, reminiscent of Washington’s Tidal Basin, the Dole Institute of Politics building is a KU landmark. A 14-foot replica of the Kansas State Seal crowns the building’s façade and a commemorative brick walkway leads to the Institute door.

Visitors first enter into the Darby Gallery and find themselves standing on a 19-foot red granite floor map of Kansas. The map is embellished with brass stars symbolizing the three towns of Russell, Topeka, and Lawrence, all of which played an important role in Senator Dole’s life.

Greeting visitors is the Dream Theater exhibit and video.

Overlooking the Dream Theater is the 20-foot-by-12-foot “Russell Window,” a stained-glass work of art evoking the landscape of Russell, Kansas (Dole’s hometown) and many similar western Kansas towns. The window was donated by the Senator in memory of his parents, Doran and Bina Dole.

Visitors then pass under the Memory Wall, a photo montage of Kansas World War II veterans covering the south wall of the Gallery. Just under the Memory Wall is a photo computer kiosk which allows visitor access to over 4,000 veteran photos submitted by veterans and/or their families. The Institute is still encouraging the submission of Kansas WWII veteran photos.

The Darby Gallery opens into Hansen Hall, the main exhibit hall. A 29-foot stained-glass American flag soars to the 36 foot tall ceiling, flanked by the World Trade Center memorial which consists of two 11 ½ foot columns salvaged from the New York City Twin Towers. At the opposite end of the central exhibit hall a 12-foot replica of the U. S. Capitol Dome tops a multi-screen video “tour” of the legislative process, narrated by Bob Dole.

Self-tours of the 6 videos and 29 displays allow individual visitors time to listen, read and reflect on the history and inspiration presented.

Through doorways along Hansen Hall are: the multi-use Simons Media Room, the Rhodes Conference Room, offices, telecommunications studio, and the Archive Reading Room. The Dole Archive is located in the nonpublic, lower level. Public White Glove Tours of the Dole Archive are scheduled monthly. Of note, the state-of- the-art archive stack area is furnished and equipped according to the standards followed by the National Archives’ Presidential Library system.

The cost of the 28,000 square foot building and its special architectural features was $11 million, $8 million of which came from private funds. The goal of achieving a $20 million endowment will ensure the future of the Dole archive and other important Institute programs.

Informational Brochures for download: