OZ Museum – Wamego, Kansas
What a wonderful trip to Oz! Visit the museum and see the variety of items from the era of entertainment from the days of Oz to the 1900′s.
The museum houses more than just memorabilia from the famous 1939 MGM musical starring Judy Garland! It encompasses earlier silent films, one of which starred none other than Oliver Hardy (Laurel and Hardy fame) as the Tin Man as well as “The Wiz” starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
The OZ Museum is dedicated to ALL things OZ. It is a treasure trove of delight and wonder and thrills visitors young and “young at heart.” Opened in 2003, the OZ Museum features over 100 years of Oz History – starting with the original book published in 1900 and continuing through the Broadway production, Wicked. The museum displays over 2,000 artifacts and provides wonderful photo opportunities with full-size Oz characters. The 1939 MGM classic plays in a state of the art theater as well as several documentaries and silent films from the 1920s. Be sure to visit Auntie Em\’s Gift Shop themed in a sepia toned barnyard to complete your journey to Oz. The OZ Museum has been featured in the L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, on NPR, and is well known around the world. The museum attracts over 28,000 visitors a year from every state in the country and abroad.
The OZ Museum recently installed a custom Tornado Simulator in their museum gift shop. Only at the OZ Museum can you experience the fury of a tornado. Winds up to 78 mph swirl around you in the sepia-toned gift shop. After your tornado experience, enter the museum and begin your journey in Munchkinland – much like Dorothy’s trip to Oz.
“We think it’s a fun element to add to the museum’s theme” says Mercedes Michalowski, Museum Director. “The cost is only $2.00 and proceeds from the machine go back to the museum to further its mission of celebrating over 100 years of Oz.”
The OZ Museum is located in Wamego, Kansas. Wamego is located 10 miles east of Manhattan at the intersection of U.S. highway 24 and Kansas highway 99, also known as The Road to OZ.
From Topeka, Kansas City, and points East: Take the Kansas Turnpike west to Topeka. Leave the turnpike at either Topeka exit, following either I-70 or I-470 west. I-470 bypasses Topeka on the south and joins I-70 to the west of the city. Continue west on I-70 to exit 328. You will see the OZ billboards and signs pointing to the exit. Exit 328 is Kansas 99. Follow it 9 miles north to Wamego, where it becomes Lincoln Avenue. The OZ Museum is in the heart of downtown Wamego, on the west side of the street, at 511 Lincoln Avenue.
From Salina, Hays, Denver and points West: Take I-70 east to exit 328. You will see the OZ billboards and signs pointing to the exit. Exit 328 is Kansas 99. Follow it 9 miles north to Wamego, where it becomes Lincoln Avenue. The OZ Museum is in the heart of downtown Wamego, on the west side of the street, at 511 Lincoln Avenue.
From Marysville, Lincoln, Omaha and points North: Drive south on your choice of highways until you reach U.S. 36. Kansas 99 intersects with U.S. 36 twelve miles east of Marysville and 18 miles west of Seneca. Drive 46 miles south on Kansas 99 to Wamego. Kansas 99 intersects with U.S. 24 to the north of Wamego. Continue on into town on the highway, which becomes Lincoln Avenue, Wamego’s Main Street. The OZ Museum is in the heart of downtown Wamego, on the west side of the street, at 511 Lincoln Avenue.
From Oklahoma City, Wichita and points South: Drive north on your choice of roads until you can conveniently access the Kansas turnpike, which is I-35 in the southern part of Kansas. If you want to stay on 4 lane highways, take I-135 near the south side of Wichita. It will take you straight north to Salina, where you can take I-70 east, following the directions above. Alternately, you can take the Kansas turnpike (I-35) northeast from Wichita to the Cassoday exit. This puts you on Kansas 177, one of the most beautiful roads in Kansas. This nationally recognized highway goes through the flint hills and directly past the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Continue on Kansas 177 north to I-70, and merge onto I-70 east, exiting 13 miles later at Exit 328. Exit 328 is Kansas 99. Follow it 9 miles north to Wamego, where it becomes Lincoln Avenue. The OZ Museum is in the heart of downtown Wamego, on the west side of the street, at 511 Lincoln Avenue.
OZ Museum Rates
Adults – 13 and up
$7.00
Children 4-12
$4.00
Children 3 and under
FREE
Group and military rates available.
Telephone: 1-866-458-TOTO (8686)
Hours:
Monday – Saturday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday
noon to 5 p.m.
Please call for winter hours.
Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
We are also closed the Monday after the Oztoberfest Festival.
Email: ozmuseum@wamego.net