Museum of World Treasures facts for kids
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| Established | 2001 |
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| Location | 835 East 1st Street, Wichita, KS 67202 United States |
The Museum of World Treasures is an exciting history museum located in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It's a place where you can explore amazing artifacts from all over the world and different time periods.
Imagine seeing real dinosaur skeletons like a Tyrannosaurus (including "Ivan the T. rex") and a Tylosaurus! You can also discover ancient Egyptian mummies, see signatures from every U.S. President, touch a piece of the Berlin Wall, and even see a genuine shrunken head. This museum doesn't focus on just one part of history. Instead, it has a huge and varied collection that covers many different subjects and interests, from prehistoric times to today. The Museum of World Treasures is a member of the American Alliance of Museums.
Contents
Discovering History: The Museum's Journey
The museum first opened its doors on April 22, 2001. It was originally called the Museum of Ancient Treasures. Most of the first exhibits came from the personal collection of the museum's founder, Dr. Jon Kardatzke.
In less than a year, the museum grew a lot! It quickly included items from over 30 different private collections. The exhibits now covered many important events and cultures, from ancient times to the present day. When the museum bought three complete dinosaur skeletons, it needed a much bigger space.
So, in 2003, the museum moved to a new location in Old Town, Wichita. It was then renamed The Museum of World Treasures. The new building is a large, three-story warehouse that was completely updated to hold the growing collection. Today, over 300 collectors have loaned or donated items to the museum. The museum actually owns about 75% of all the artifacts you see!
Exploring the Museum: What's Inside
The Museum of World Treasures has three floors filled with incredible historical artifacts. You can move between the floors using a central spiral staircase. There's also a popular glass elevator that gives you a cool view of the towering dinosaur exhibit! The first floor is also where you'll find the main entrance and the Museum Store.
First Floor: Ancient Worlds and Dinosaurs
The first floor takes you back in time to the age of fossils and early human history. It also has a room dedicated to geology. Some of the most exciting exhibits here include:
- Ivan the T. rex - This giant Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton was found in 2007. About 65% of it is real fossil! When it was discovered, it had the most complete tail of any T. rex ever found, with only three bones missing.
- "Sea Creatures of the Plains" - This exhibit shows off amazing marine fossils found right here in Kansas. You can see a huge 34-foot Tylosaurus, a Xiphactinus, and a mosasaur.
- Egyptian Mummies - Get a close look at real female mummies from ancient Egypt.
- Coins of the Roman Emperors - This is a 50-foot-long timeline! It displays gold, silver, and bronze coins from almost every Roman Emperor. You can also read about their adventures and conquests.
- World Civilizations - Explore showcases dedicated to ancient Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Egyptian, Pre Columbian, African, Southeast Asian, and Ancient Near East cultures.
Second Floor: Wars, Presidents, and Royalty
The second floor of the museum focuses on military history, American presidents, and royalty from around the world. Here are some key exhibits:
- More Than Darkness - This section features documents and artifacts from the Middle Ages.
- A Touch of Classicism: Telling the Story of the Renaissance - Take a journey through the amazing cultural changes of the Renaissance period.
- Military Gallery - See weapons and artifacts from many important conflicts. These include the American Revolutionary War, the American Civil War, World War I (with a large recreation of Trench Warfare), World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
- American Presidents Gallery - This gallery has the actual signature of every single American president! You can also see a replica of the famous Resolute Desk.
Third Floor: American History and Fun Spaces
The third floor features many items from American history. This top floor also has a large room that can be rented for special events. Some interesting exhibits here are:
- All Are Not Free - This exhibit tells the story of life behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, featuring related artifacts.
- Ivan's PlayHouse - A fun, kid-friendly play area with educational activities.
- Romancing the West - Discover artifacts about cowboys, Native Americans, frontier living, and the Pony Express.
- Historic Composers and Music - See original writings from famous musicians like Mozart, Beethoven, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra.
- Kardatzke Historic Authors Collection - This collection features items from famous writers and poets such as Robert Frost and Mark Twain.
- Rentable Event Space - A large area available for events like weddings, dinners, or meetings.
Rotating Exhibits: Always Something New
The Museum of World Treasures often has special exhibits that are only on display for a limited time. This means there's always something new to see when you visit!
How the Museum Works
The Museum of World Treasures is a non-profit organization. This means it's run by a board of directors and uses its money to support its mission, not to make a profit.
Programs and Learning
The museum is very focused on its goal to teach, entertain, and inspire visitors. They offer many programs, such as:
- Camp-Ins (where you can sleep over at the museum!)
- Educational Tours for schools and groups
- Scout Programs
- Community Outreach Programs that bring history to different places
- Educational Partnerships with other organizations
- Adult programs like lectures and evening events
Nearby Museums to Explore
If you're in Wichita, there are other cool museums nearby!
West of Arkansas River in Wichita:
- Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
- Exploration Place
- Mid-America All-Indian Center
- Old Cowtown Museum
- Wichita Art Museum
East of Arkansas River in Downtown and Old Town Areas of Wichita:
- Great Plains Transportation Museum
- Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
- Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
