La Cygne was founded in 1869. According to The La Cygne Journal, churches had begun to organize by 1870. The first four groups to do so were the Catholics, the Methodists, the Presbyterians and the Baptists. 

In 1870, the Catholic Society constructed a building on Market Street near the office and residence of Dr. T. J. Danner. It was located directly south of where the school was later erected on Walnut Street. However, by 1876, there is no mention of the church in the newspaper. Many years later, the Catholics once again have a church in La Cygne. Our Lady of Lourdes was built in 1982 and is located at 5th and Grand. 

According to maps we have at the museum, the Presbyterian Church was located on the southeast corner of 5th and Locust. The cornerstone was laid in June of 1870. Pastor William H. Vroom presented his first message in the newly completed building on Sunday, August 21, 1870. They continued to hold services through 1909. In 1911, the building was put up for bids and Jay Miller had the winning bid, $500. The Journal states that the new Methodist parsonage was built on that location. Dr. A. J. May purchased the bell and presented it to the Methodists in hopes that they would hang it in their new church. The museum has in its collections a Bible which belonged to the Presbyterian Church.

The Methodist Church has had a presence in La Cygne from the very beginning. Their first services were held in a log school house south of La Cygne. Other meetings were held in Heath’s Hall and Cady Hall. During the summer of 1870, a building was constructed on Walnut Street. The first service was held there on November 19, 1870. In January of 1909, they purchased lots from R. M. Carroll on the corner of 4th and Chestnut Streets. The old building was moved to this location, but they later decided to erect a new building. This building was exactly like the building in Drexel, Missouri and the contractor was M. W. Oberton. It was dedicated on April 27, 1924. An addition has been added to the east side of the building. The old building was purchased by C. T. Potter who relocated it to Market Street and converted it into a house. It was torn down to make room for our current Post Office. The museum has several items of memorabilia that was donated by the Burnett family.

 Other Methodist churches also played a key role in La Cygne history. In November of 1886, the African American congregation was in the process of constructing a building at the south end of Railroad Street. In 1911, the church burned, so they purchased a building from Jay Miller and moved it to their lots and remodeled it. McCabe Chapel at Jingo also has strong ties to La Cygne. After the church closed, a former member gave a lot of memorabilia that she had saved to the museum.

In June of 1870, a Baptist Society was organized in La Cygne. Their first meetings were held in Cady Hall. They secured lots on 4th Street across from S. D. Cady’s residence for a church building. Rev. Albert Gore became their first minister. The group continued to meet in Cady Hall through the end of 1871 and even purchased an organ. Plans to build a brick building in 1872 never came to fruition. In the fall of 1883, there were once again plans to organize a Baptist Church. This did not materialize until July of 1886 when the First Baptist Church applied for a charter and Rev. C. J. Plumb became pastor. At first, the Second Baptist Church allowed them to use their building until they rented T. W. Williamson’s store building on the north side of Market Street in August of 1886. They are first called the Calvary Baptist Church in March of 1888 and Rev. John Sage became their pastor. Their first building was erected on the southeast corner of Locust and Broadway. In 1957 their current chapel was completed on the northeast corner directly across from the old building. An addition was added in the 1980’s. The museum has two chairs which are from the church.

There are two other Baptist churches that have played important roles in La Cygne. The Second Baptist Church was very active, organizing a choir, hosting socials and concerts and performing many baptisms. A 26 x 30 frame structure was built in the southern part of town on Vine Street in 1880 and Rev. E. M. Cohran was their first pastor. They were also known as the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church. In April of 1988, another church, the New Life Baptist Church, was established in La Cygne. They held their first meetings at the La Cygne Elementary School, but later rented the church at Jingo. When they built their own building, they used windows, doors, bricks and wood trim from the old elementary school building. The church is located on the east side of town next to the current medical building.

The La Cygne Christian Aid Society was formed in April of 1894. A building was erected and on January 20, 1895 the La Cygne Christian Church was dedicated. Between 1946 and 1950, fundraising efforts, and the adoption of the “God’s Acre Plan” resulted in the construction of a new building which was dedicated on November 18, 1951. A multi-purpose building was added in 2000. Structural problems with the main building resulted in it being demolished in January of 2007. Currently, the multi-purpose building houses the sanctuary, a kitchen, restrooms and classrooms.

The Four Square Church also had a presence in La Cygne. Their building was located at the northeast corner of Chestnut and Broadway. The building is still standing and has housed several businesses, including Coach's Pizza, Pudgy's Bakery, a video rental store, a flea market and others.