Old Cowtown Museum facts for kids
Darius Sales Munger House, built in 1868 at 901 N. Waco
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| Established | 1952 |
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| Location | 1865 West Museum Blvd, Wichita, Kansas 67203, United States |
| Type | Old West Museum |
Old Cowtown Museum is an amazing history museum in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It's located right next to the Arkansas River in the middle of Wichita. The museum started in 1952. It's one of the oldest outdoor history museums in the central United States!
Imagine 54 old buildings, including a farm, spread out over 23 acres. This land is even near the original Chisholm Trail. Cowtown is like a mix of a fun attraction, a museum, and a place where history comes alive. It helps everyone learn about the past.
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Step Back in Time at Cowtown
The Old Cowtown Museum shows you what life was like in Wichita during the late 1800s. It tells the story of how Wichita changed. It went from a small frontier town to a busy cattle town. Then it became a place known for farming and making things.
The museum has over 12,000 old items. These range from big farm wagons to tiny teaspoons! You can also meet live animals there. They have big Percheron horses, a milk cow, sheep, a goat, and chickens. At Old Cowtown, you'll see people dressed in old-fashioned clothes. You can also try hands-on activities and join special events all year long.
Cowtown is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This is the highest award a museum can get in the United States. Only about 3% of all museums in the country have this special recognition.
How Wichita Became "Cowtown"
The first people to settle permanently in Wichita were the Wichita tribe in 1864. They lived in grass houses. A pioneer trader named Jesse Chisholm set up a trading post here in the 1860s. The famous Chisholm Trail was even named after him!
Wichita was officially started by businessmen in 1868. It became a city in 1870. The Chisholm Trail ran right by Wichita from 1867 to 1871. In 1872, a train line was built connecting Wichita to Newton. This made Wichita a major stop for cattle drives coming from Texas. That's how Wichita got its nickname, "Cowtown."
Across the Arkansas River from Wichita was a village called Delano. This place was known for its saloons and wild reputation. It was a popular spot for the rough cowboys visiting town. But the Wichita side of the river was kept more orderly. This was thanks to famous lawmen like Wyatt Earp who helped keep the cowboys in line. Later, when train lines went further west and south, Wichita stopped being the main stop for cattle drives. The wild cowboys moved on. In 1880, Delano became part of Wichita. By 1890, Wichita's population had grown to almost 24,000 people!
Movies Filmed at Old Cowtown
The Old Cowtown Museum has been used as a set for several movies! Here are some of them:
- Bender Claim, The - filmed in 2013
- Bloody Dawn - filmed in 2006
- Midnight Shanghai - filmed in 2016
- Only Good Indian, The - filmed in 2007
- Road to Valhalia - filmed in 2013
- Skylark - filmed in 1992
- Touched by Fire - filmed in 2004
- Wichita - filmed in 2013
Plan Your Visit: Hours and Admission
- Hours in 2023
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m. (Every Sunday from April to October is free!)
- Admission in 2023
- Senior (62+): $9.00
- Adult (18-61): $10.00
- Youth (5-17): $8.00
- Children (under 4): Free
- Cowtown Members get free admission
- Special prices are available for groups (15+ people and schools)
See also
