Boot Hill Museum

Brief History of Boot Hill Museum

Boot Hill Museum, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization that was founded by the Dodge City Jaycees as a community service project in 1947 and staffed primarily with volunteers for the first ten years. First housed in the 3,000 square foot Boot Hill Building adjacent to Boot Hill Cemetery, the Museum contained a wide variety of cultural and natural history objects. During the 1950's, 1865 Fort Dodge jail was acquired and a train engine was moved to the site. In 1958, the construction of historic Front Street began, with additional buildings being added in 1964 and 1970.

Buildings moved to the site during the 1970's included a Santa Fe Railway depot, a 1915 one-room schoolhouse, an 1880 carriage/blacksmith shop, and an 1879 cattleman's home.

In the 1980's, the staff decided on an overall interpretive theme for the complex. Initially the complex was divided into two major eras. In the Boot Hill Building was the buffalo hunting period, 1872 to 1876. The cattle drive and wheat farming period, 1876 to 1890, was placed inside the Front Street replica.

In 1995 the Museum made the complex ADA compliant and enhanced its Santa Fe Trail Rut Site west of Dodge City. In 2001 a new Gun Exhibit, "Guns That Won The West," was designed and built. Improvements were made to the Beeson Gallery with the remodeling of the Jail Exhibit and the Front Street Times Print Shop. During 2003 and 2004 the original 1947 Museum Building was completely renovated. It now features the "People of the Plains" which contains the Plains Indians, Forts and Railroads, Buffalo Hunters, Cattle Industry, Santa Fe Trail, Victorian Clothing, Last Dodge City Marshal and Hollywood exhibits.

In 2006 Museum staff constructed a Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame exhibit. The Hall of Fame is adjacent to the Occident catering facility which was converted from the Boot Hill Repertory Theater space in 1996.

In 2004 an old Catholic Church was donated and moved to the Museum from Bucklin. In 2009 renovations to the Church were completed making it Boot Hill Museum's newest exhibit.

Boot Hill Museum Core Values

• Authenticity - Preserving and presenting historical information in a responsible and accurate manner.
• Conduct - Interacting with honesty, integrity, respect, friendliness, and knowledge.
• Experience - Engaging guests through education and entertainment.
• Community - Working cooperatively with and as an integral part of the community.
• Environment - Providing a creative, safe, supportive environment for our guests and staff.
• Stewardship - Managing and caring for the organization's property and resources.

Boot Hill Museum Mission & Vision Statement

The mission of Boot Hill Museum is to preserve and interpret the Old West through exhibits, education and entertainment reflective of the area's rich heritage.

Our vision for Boot Hill Museum is to be a recognized destination for our guests to experience the history and relive the legend of Dodge City.

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