Last Friday, I went with the United Way director in McPherson to Dodge City to meet with some other United Way directors. Since everyone has asked, according to the GPS we took along, it takes 2.5 hours to reach Dodge City from Mac. So yes, it was a long day. We had some time for business talk and I was able to come away with some new thoughts and ideas.
However, that is not what this post is about. This post is about some of the sights I saw there. I have never actually stopped in Dodge other than at the McDonald's on our way to somewhere else. So this was a little bit of an adventure.
We had lunch at the restaurant inside the Boot Hill museum, it was pretty good. Boot Hill, by the way, was the local cemetery for people who died with their boots on...meaning in a gun fight.
And then we toured the museum a little. Boot Hill is all about the Old West life style. Apparently back in the day, it was a huge boom town for three reasons:
1) buffalo - over 800,000 or something like that were killed by the 1870's;
2) the Sante Fe Trail - major pit stop for trail riders;
and 3) cows - yep. Dodge was know for the longhorn cattle that came up from Texas.
The museum was dedicated to the days of yore. Whatever that means. But it was kind of fun. :) Unfortunately, we missed the shoot out. Everyday at noon - they have a shoot out. Now that's my kind of fun for sure! So watch out if you ever go there, for Ed Masterson, Wyatt Erp and the infamous Billy the Kid.
I love old stuff...this piano rocks my socks off. And that lamp, which used to be a gas lamp has the most beautiful painting on it. I would love one of those.
That kid sized buggy is too funny. I love it. Then there was this amazing bar. Look at that woodworking and it was the actual bar from one of the original saloons. There is also another one of those gas lights.
It was definitely an interesting day. If you are looking for a fun day trip, I would recommend it. We enjoyed our time. Plus it wasn't very expensive. So you should check it out sometime.