A visit to Boot Hill Museum takes visitors back in time to the dusty and exciting streets of the Old West in one of the hubs of 1880s America; Dodge City, Kansas. The museum caters for many different groups and tastes, and it contains over 60,000 objects, photographs and documents from Dodge City's early days in the 1970s through to the 1920s. This museum prides itself on its interactive activities and displays with a selection of shows and events on offer throughout the year. The Boot Hill Museum is a must visit for anyone with even a moderate interest in the Old West and the pioneers who drove westward expansion at the turn of the 20th century.
Best and worst time to go to Boot Hill Museum
While Boot Hill Museum is open year round, the best time to go to enjoy the full experience is during the summer season. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day and this is when the museum comes into its own with gunfights, can-can girls and other reenactments stealing the show. The worst time to visit this open air museum would be in the cold Kansas winter as many of the more unique attractions are closed for the season.
Must see/do at Boot Hill Museum
The star turn at Boot Hill Museum is the epic gunfights which happen at high noon (of course) and then again at 7 p.m. during the summer months. The museum is built on the original location of Boot Hill Cemetery and a large corner has been left undisturbed to be explored in an eerie throwback to Dodge City's Wild West past. The Long Branch Variety Show has been running for over 55 years and is the kind of rip roaring time you would expect in an Old West saloon.
Admission to Boot Hill Museum
The best value ticket for Boot Hill Museum is the Combo Pass which includes admission to the museum, the Country-Style Dinner and admission to the long Branch Variety Show. This ticket covers everything you would want to do in a day at the museum and is around $30 for adults with a discount for children. Admission for just the museum itself is around $10 for adults with a family pass option available for those with two adults and two children 17 and under. .
Parking and Public Transportation to Boot Hill Museum
Public transportation to the museum is non-existent so the best way to visit is by car. Boot Hill Museum has a large, free parking lot which can be accessed directly from Wyatt Earp Blvd which is the main road through Dodge City. This road is signposted from Hwy 50/400 and the museum is easily located right in the center of town.
Food at Boot Hill Museum
To really make the most out of a trip to Boot Hill Museum a ticket to the Country Style Dinner is essential. This meal of slow roasted Kansas beef, oven fried taters n' onions, corn, coleslaw, and biscuits with honey will really add an down home feel to your day's adventure. This meal is served promptly at 6 p.m. during the summer and other than snacks is the only food available on site.
Insider tip for visitors to Boot Hill Museum
Don't leave the museum without first stopping by the Old West Photo Parlor. Photos are taken in provided costumes from the era and are set in antique design frames to create a perfect memento of your day in the Old West.
Author's bio: Michael Wright has lived in Wichita for 10 years and is a frequent visitor to the Old Town district. He writes for a living and loves to instill a passion for traveling into others.