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Open-air museum · Wichita, Kansas
Old Cowtown Museum
A 19th-century riverside village with dozens of houses, shops, a saloon, school and farm, and interpreters in period clothing who demonstrate life in Wichita during the cattle-driving era.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Old Cowtown Museum
The Old Cowtown Museum recreates Wichita between the 1860s and 1880s, when the city was a trading post and a shipping point for cattle driven up from Texas along the Chisholm Trail. There are dozens of buildings, some original to the period and relocated from other parts of the city, others reconstructed, spread over about 9 hectares along the Arkansas River.
Dirt streets feature a general store, blacksmith, barber, saloon, church, school, newspaper, train depot, residents’ houses and a farm with animals. Interpreters in period clothing work in the workshops, cook and speak with visitors as if they lived in the 19th century. On certain days there are reenactments and baseball games played under old rules.
The museum is owned by the city of Wichita. The season with the most activities runs from April through October, Wednesday to Sunday; in winter visits are mostly self-guided with reduced hours.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours.
Best time
From April through October, when there are more interpreters and activities. In the morning to avoid summer heat.
How to get there
It is on Museum Boulevard, along the Arkansas River, about 3 km west of downtown, next to Botanica.
Tip
Ask at the entrance about the day’s schedule: reenactments and demonstrations have set times.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Old Cowtown Museum
When does the Old Cowtown Museum open?
Wednesday through Sunday; the season with more activities runs from April to October. Check the website.
Is the Old Cowtown Museum good for children?
Yes. Children can watch the blacksmith at work, meet the farm animals and attend a one‑room schoolhouse.
How long does a visit to the Old Cowtown Museum take?
Two to three hours.