Boot Hill Museum - Dodge City, Kansas

Boot Hill Museum - Dodge City, Kansas

Dodge City, founded in 1872, was the world’s largest shipping point for Longhorn cattle.  With the cowboys coming into town after being on the roundup and trail for so long they often had lots of pent up energy and other things that they wanted to release.  Therefore, Dodge City was one of the wildest of the early frontier towns.  Enter such men as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and Bill Tilghman and law and order was brought to the community.

In Dodge City the Front Street buildings are reconstructions, exhibiting hundreds of original artifacts.  They represent the town as it was in 1876. 

The various exhibits throughout the museum depict life as it was.  There are over 200 original guns on display, a working print shop, an extensive collection of drug store items, an entire building that was just completely renovated and many other special exhibits.  There are approximately 20,000 artifacts displayed throughout the complex.

Step Back in History at the Boot Hill Museum

 

Dodge City is renowned for being one of the roughest, toughest towns in the West, and many famous gunfighters and lawmen, such as Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and Wyatt Earp spent time in town. The town, founded in 1872, was known as the "Wickedest City in the West" for a time.

 

The Boot Hill Museum and Front Street replicate what life was like back in 1876. The fronts on all of the buildings are historically accurate, and you can see a collection of more than 200 guns from the era as well as 20,000 other artifacts.

 

You will also find many other great exhibits here, and this is an incredible place to spend the day.

 

The People of the Plains exhibit tells the story of the nomadic Indians that lived on the plains in the area. Boot Hill Cemetery houses the remains of many buffalo hunters, gunfighters, and drifters who had no money to be properly buried or returned to their home.

 

The Long Branch Saloon is an exact recreation of how saloons in the area looked during the latter part of the 1800s. Also, be sure to check out the working print shop.

 

In addition to all of the exhibits, you can see the Boot Hill Gunfighters, who recreate an Old West style gun battle in the street, or check out the Long Branch Variety Show. There you can see singers, comedians, and can-can dancers. The variety show makes for a fine evening and only costs only $7.95 per person.

 

If you get the chance, make sure you take the stagecoach ride, which costs $6 per person, and takes you through downtown Dodge City.

 

If you are visiting the historic Dodge City, there is no way that you should miss a trip to the Boot Hill Museum and Front Street. Everyone who has even a passing interest in American history or the Wild West will love this museum. It is historical, educational, and fun.

 

The Museum is open throughout the year. Admission during the summer is $8 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and students, and children are free. If you have a large family, you may wish to take advantage of their family rate, which is $30. During the offseason, admission prices are a bit lower: $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and students, kids still free, and the family rate drops to $25.

Admission: Summer - Adults $8, Seniors $7.50, Students $7.50, Children Free and Family pass $25

Off-season - Adults $7, Seniors and students $6.50 and Children are still free and a Family pass is $20.00

Hours: Memorial Day through Labor Day Open Daily 8 - 8

Off-season Monday - Saturday 9 - 5 and Sunday 1 - 5

Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

To complete your trip to Dodge City, consider staying there.  HotelsCombined.com provides excellent rates for all Dodge City hotels.

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