Exploring the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail

Connie Attractions & Events, History, Kansas, Road Trips May 24, 2024June 24, 2024Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, Old West 0 Comment

Midwest Wanderer Explores… Latest Issue

When the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail launched last year, we couldn’t wait to experience it. The trail is made up of four Kansas cities that were mentioned often in the old radio and television Gunsmoke series— Wichita, Dodge City, Hays, and Abilene—and includes lots of Old West-related attractions.

Our latest Midwest Wanderer Explores e-zine issue, “Kansas Gunsmoke Trail,” includes twelve articles about our experiences on the trail, plus links to related blog posts we’ve published in the past.

Discover Dodge City’s Wild West legacy through immersive exhibits at the Boot Hill Museum…
Trace the footsteps of frontier defenders at Historic Fort Hays…
Ride the oldest operating C.W. Parker carousel and see Wild Bill Hickok’s gun at the Dickinson County Heritage Center and Museum in Abilene…
Sip a cold sarsaparilla in the saloon while watching showgirls dance at Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita…

…and so much more.

Cowtown to Carousels: Explore the Dickinson County Heritage Center

Connie Attractions & Events, History, Kansas May 24, 2024May 24, 2024C.W. Parker carousel, Dickinson County heritage Center, Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, Museums in Abilene Kansas, Things to do in Abilene KS 0 Comment

Old West history… The oldest operating C.W. Parker carousel… An Extensive Telephone Exhibit… These are three things that stood out to me at the Dickinson County Heritage Center and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.

We arrived as the museum was opening for the day, and the first thing I did was to practically run through the building and out the back to where the carousel stands. I scored a private ride on the carousel, and staff member Wade Needham related the history the C.W. Parker carousel company.

Historic Fort Hays: Tracing the Footsteps of Frontier Defenders

Connie Attractions & Events, History, Kansas May 24, 2024May 24, 2024Hays Kansas attractions, Historic Fort hays, Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, Museums in Hays Kansas, What to do in Hays KS 0 Comment

The United State established Fort Hays (originally called Fort Fletcher) as a U.S. Army post in 1865. The fort’s function, like other frontier forts, was to protect railroad workers and settlers as they traveled west. They were also tasked with enforcing treaties with Indian tribes.

The fort grounds included 7,650 acres of land, but its 45 buildings were situated on just 65 of those acres. Today only four buildings remain, as well as a visitor center, on a fraction of the original fort property.

Honestly, when we first saw the property, we thought it would be a quick visit. But, besides the four buildings, there are several foundations that outline other former buildings. Those foundations, together with signage throughout the property and exhibits inside the existing buildings, make a great self-guided tour. We ended up spending several hours exploring Historic Fort Hays.

Home of Stone: The Mueller-Schmidt House – A Living Heritage

Connie Attractions & Events, History, Kansas, Road Trips May 24, 2024May 24, 2024Dodge City attractions, Home of Stone, Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, Mueller-Schmidt House 0 Comment

The Mueller-Schmidt House is the only building in Dodge City built of limestone. It’s also the oldest building in the city still on its original foundation. Built from 1879 to 1881, owner John Mueller wanted it to be one of the most impressive homes in the city. Although nowhere near a mansion, many of its unique features stand out as special. Even more special is the story behind the two families who lived in the home—and some of the family members who may still live there in spirit.

Boot Hill Museum: Discover the Wild West Legacy

Connie Attractions & Events, Culture, History, Kansas, Road Trips May 24, 2024May 24, 2024Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City attractions, Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, Wild West 0 Comment

We first visited the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas, in 2018. At that time, we heard about an upcoming big museum renovation. So, when we returned to Dodge City in 2024, we were anxious to see the changes.

From what we could tell, there weren’t many changes to the exhibits we saw on our first visit. But, there was a huge new addition, which I’ll talk about in a minute. First, we’ll explore exhibits that we remembered from our first visit and still exist.

Time Travel at The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

Connie Attractions & Events, Culture, History, Kansas May 24, 2024May 24, 2024Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, Museums in Wichita, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museums 0 Comment

We visited the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum to learn more about the city’s Wild West days, as portrayed in the Gunsmoke series. We did find that era fascinating, but we couldn’t resist going through the rest of the museum as well.

It’s amazing that a city can go from the Wild West days to becoming the “air capital of the world” in only about sixty years.

But museum exhibits begin even before the Wild West days, all the way back to when the only population was Native American tribes. Exhibits continue through to modern times.

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