Historians believe that the name of Kırşehir in ancient times was "Parnassos" or "Makissos". During the Hittite period, the Kırşehir basin was called the land of "Ahiyuva". In the Roman and Byzantine periods, it was known as "Cappadocia". Kırşehir owes its historical revival to the Anatolian Seljuks. Especially after the 11th century, it was observed that Kırşehir had a significant influence in the fields of science and fine arts. During the Seljuk period, the name of Kırşehir was mentioned as Gülşehir. After the Battle of Kösedağ in 1243, the Mongols completely dominated Anatolia. During this period, Cacaoğlu Nureddin, who was appointed as the governor of Kırşehir, pursued a peaceful policy against the Mongols and made Kırşehir a prosperous city. In this era, Kırşehir became one of the most important Turkish Cultural Centers, raising prominent Turkish Islamic poets, thinkers, and mystics such as Aşık Paşa, Caca Bey, Ahi Evran, Süleyman Türkmani, Ahmedi Gülşehri, and Hacı Bektaş Veli. Considering that Taptuk Emre and Yunus Emre also lived in and around Kırşehir, we can see that these spiritual leaders resisted the Mongol invasion and ensured the establishment of Turkish culture in Anatolia.
Later, Kırşehir frequently changed hands under the rule of various principalities. Finally, Kırşehir definitively and completely came under Ottoman rule during the reign of Murad II. In the mid-19th century, Kırşehir lost its importance and became a small stopover on the trade routes. As a sanjak (sub-province) affiliated with the Konya province, Kırşehir first became a district of the Niğde sanjak in the second half of the 19th century, then a sanjak of the Ankara province, and finally an independent sanjak in 1921.
This beautiful city of Central Anatolia, which had raised many heroes in the past, also fulfilled its duty during the War of Independence, proving this with 210 martyrs and 87 veterans. Kırşehir became an independent mutasarrifate in 1921. It became the first provincial center of the Republican era. In 1924, Avanos, Çiçekdağı, Hacıbektaş, and Mucur were attached to Kırşehir. When Kaman also became a district in 1944, the number of Kırşehir's districts reached five. The law no. 6429 dated July 20, 1954, made Nevşehir a province and Kırşehir a district attached to it. Çiçekdağı was connected to Yozgat, Kaman to Ankara, and Hacıbektaş, Avanos, and Mucur to Nevşehir. With the law no. 7001 enacted on July 1, 1957, Kırşehir became a province once again. In this new arrangement, Çiçekdağı, Kaman, and Mucur were reattached to Kırşehir, while Hacıbektaş and Avanos were included in Nevşehir. Akpınar became a new district of Kırşehir in 1990. Currently, there are six districts affiliated with Kırşehir.

The Cacabey Madrasa, located in the city center of Kırşehir, is the only example in Anatolia featuring three different brick weaving systems applied to its minaret. It is a closed-courtyard madrasa built on an almost square rectangular base extending in the east-west direction. According to the Arabic inscription on its main portal, the madrasa was built in 1272-73 by Cacaoğlu Nureddin Cebrail, who was the Emir of Kırşehir during the reign of Seljuk Sultan Gıyâseddin Keyhüsrev III.
The endowment charters, which bear the date of 10 Shawwal 670 (May 10, 1272) and were apparently drawn up before the construction of the madrasa was completed, reveal that the benefactor donated all his properties in and around Kırşehir, İskilip, Kuşhisar (Koçhisar), and Sultanyüği (Eskişehir), as well as some in the Ankara, Konya, and Aksaray provinces, partly to his children and grandchildren, and partly to madrasas, mosques, inns, and other structures. The endowment charter, which was specifically prepared in Mongolian, is of great importance as it is the only known example in 13th-century Anatolia.
According to the Ankara Province Yearbook of 1907, the madrasa, which was described as a ruin in 19th-century travelogues, was partially converted into a mosque. The building, which later underwent various restorations under the supervision of the General Directorate of Foundations, serves as a mosque today.

The Mosque and Tomb, built in 1482 in the name of Ahi Evran, the founder of the Ahilik Organization, is located in the provincial center of Kırşehir. The tomb is accessed via a staircase inside the mosque. The complex (zaviye) consists of a planned masjid, the tomb of Ahi Evran, and spaces used as a dervish lodge. The Ahi Evran Tomb takes its name from Ahi Evran-ı Veli. It was built in honor of Ahi Evran-ı Veli, who is regarded as a friend of God (evliyaullah) by the public and is the founder of the tradesmen's guild and the Ahilik (tradesmen, production masters) organization. The building, originally constructed as a lodge, began to be used as a mosque in later years. He was unsuccessful in the battle he fought alongside the Turkmens who supported him against the Mongols invading Anatolia. After Ahi Evran was killed by being torn apart with swords on April 1, 1261, his wife and children took refuge with Hacı Bektaş Veli. The members of the Ahilik organization did not leave Anatolia and continued their resistance, playing a highly crucial role in the Turkification of Anatolia and Rumelia. With the advice of Hacı Bektaş Veli, Ahi Evran established the tradesmen solidarity guilds, later known as Ahilik, to ensure the unity and solidarity of the newly arrived Turkish tradesmen against the Greek, Armenian, and Jewish tradesmen of the time. The foundation of today's chambers of tradesmen was laid by Ahi Evran.

Âşık Paşa, born in Kırşehir in 1272, is one of the most important mystic poets of Turkish Sufi literature, particularly known for his work "Garibnâme". With his plain and understandable Turkish, he made a great contribution both to the spread of Sufi thought in Anatolia and to the strengthening of Turkish as a language of science and literature. In this regard, he is considered a powerful intellectual and literary figure who shaped the spiritual world of the public both in his own time and in subsequent eras. For Kırşehir, Âşık Paşa lies at the core of the city's cultural identity, as it is where he was born, raised, and spent most of his life. His expression of Sufi thought in Turkish in Garibnâme constitutes an important legacy that highlights Kırşehir today in terms of the Turkish language and Sufi tradition. In various events organized in the city, Âşık Paşa is commemorated as one of the symbolic names of the Turkish language and wisdom. The Âşık Paşa Tomb was built entirely of marble in 1333 by Alaattin Ali Şahruhi, the vizier of the Eretna State, upon his will. It is situated inside a large cemetery on a hillside outside the city, northeast of Kırşehir. With its asymmetrical facade, its eight-pointed dome resembling a Kyrgyz/Turkish tent, and its corbeling technique extending back to Central Asia, it is considered a unique and remarkable structure that brought innovation to Anatolian Turkish-Islamic architecture.

Lake Seyfe is one of the few salt lakes located in Central Anatolia. It is situated northeast of Kırşehir. The region consists of wetlands and locally reedy, marshy areas. East of the lake, there are many islets formed by reeds close to the shore. A total of 187 bird species, including songbirds, exist on these islets and around the lake. The lake is an important wetland not only for Turkey but also globally, serving as a feeding, breeding, and resting area for waterfowl. One of the world's largest flamingo colonies (around 320 thousand) shelters in this lake.

The Mikasanomiya Memorial Garden is the largest Japanese Garden outside of Japan. It was built in memory of His Highness Prince Mikasa and opened in 1993 with his participation. Right next to this botanical garden in Kırşehir's Kaman district is the Kalehöyük Archaeological Museum.

The Mikasanomiya Memorial Garden is the largest Japanese Garden outside of Japan. It was built in memory of His Highness Prince Mikasa and opened in 1993 with his participation. Right next to this botanical garden in Kırşehir's Kaman district is the Kalehöyük Archaeological Museum. Excavations at the mound have revealed the existence of a settlement starting from the Early Bronze Age and continuing until the Ottoman period. These findings provide us with insights into the interaction of the cultures that lived here with their environment, their relationships, and their understanding of art. The cultural layers identified at Kalehöyük so far can be summarized as follows: Layer I: Ottoman Period (15th-17th centuries) Ia, Ib Layer II: Iron Age (12th-4th centuries BC) IIa, IIb, IIc, IId Layer III: Middle and Late Bronze Age (20th-12th centuries BC) IIIa, IIIb, IIIc Layer IV: Early Bronze Age (23rd-20th centuries BC) IVa, IVb The Assyrian Trade Colonies Period, which took place in the 2nd millennium BC at Kalehöyük, manifests itself in the Kaman Kalehöyük findings. There are also settlements belonging to the Old and Late Hittite, as well as the Old and Late Phrygian phases.