The 1880's

1880 Voters approved bonds for building an Opera House in Junction City.
1881 A large portion of the Opera House collapsed during construction causing $6000 in damage.
1882 The Opera House was named City Hall because the theater portion served more as a community center than an opera house. City offices, including the fire station, were located in the front portion of the building.
1883 The first Thanksgiving Ball was held.

The 1890's

1890 On January 1, City Hall was renamed the Blakely Opera House after Major William Sayer Blakely, former mayor of Junction City. The Opera House closed for interior remodeling.
1898 Fire from an unknown cause destroyed the entire Opera House on January 14. The Opera House reopened after the south portion was rebuilt using native limestone from quarries near Fort Riley. The front was restructured with a similar facade but slightly different tower.
1899 The Opera House was the site of the grand community banquet welcoming home the local unit of the 20th Kansas Infantry from the Spanish American War.

The 1900's

1901 Memorial Service for President McKinley held on the Opera House stage.
1902 John Phillip Sousa and his band performed on the Opera House stage.
1904 Original town clock was rebuilt and restored to the Opera House Tower.

The 1910's

1914 City leases the Opera House to a private operator who presents a combination of theater productions and moving pictures.
1917 The Opera House, again under city management, is refurbished to accommodate WWI soldiers and families
1919 The Opera was again taken over by private management and operated as the City Theater showing moving pictures

The 1930's

1930s R.B. Fegan leased the Opera House to operate a movie theater for several years early in the Depression
1936 R.B. White, contractor for the new municipal building, purchased the Opera House from the city.
1937 City offices moved from the Opera House to the new Municipal Building across the street.
1938 The Opera House is used for storage of building supplies. The town clock is started again after public outcry.

The 1940's

1940s The Opera House was gutted and remodeled into a "modern movie theater," the Colonial Theater

1980's

1982 The Colonial Theater is closed and the Opera House was returned to the city with the hope of restoration and use for theater productions and the arts.

The 2000's