Chisholm Trail Heritage Center
Duncan, Oklahoma
No one thinks of the Wild West without picturing cowboys, from driving cattle across the prairie to singing songs under the stars. One major component of that culture was the Chisholm Trail, a cattle trail that extended from Texas to Abilene, Kansas.
Immortalized by the classic cowboy song “The Old Chisholm Trail,” the route served as a passage for millions of longhorn cattle from 1867 to 1885. During that challenging two-month journey, cattle drivers led the herds through rivers, braved prairie storms and fought off cattle thieves.
At the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, Oklahoma, groups can learn how to rope a longhorn steer, play a game of checkers in the Duncan general store or admire Western and Native American art in the Garis Gallery. There is also a 4-D sensory theater where the audience can experience the rumble of a stampede.
This year, the trail will celebrate its 150th anniversary, and numerous activities and events have been organized across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas in celebration.
“Chisholm is a uniquely American piece of history, and the anniversary really gives us the chance to talk about it,” said Stacy Cramer Moore, executive director at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. “It’s been really fun to see the three states come together to work on a project of this scale.”
In April, the three states will kick off the anniversary celebration with galas, concerts and educational programs on cowboy culture. As fall winds to a close, the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center will hold a cowboy poetry night under the stars, where groups can settle next to a campfire and enjoy open-mic performances.
Old Cowtown Museum
Wichita, Kansas
Now celebrating 65 years, the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, Kansas, provides groups an unforgettable Western town experience with live gunfights and saloon girls dancing the can-can.
“We try to tell history through the exhibits as well as live demonstrations,” said Jacky Goerzen, executive director at the museum.
As groups explore the 54 historic and reconstructed buildings in town, they can take a stagecoach ride or visit the printing, dressmaker and blacksmith shops, which contain authentic machinery and period furnishings. One of the biggest highlights for many visitors is seeing the live gunfights that take place twice each day.
The attraction also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as a steam punk costume contest, a Roaring ’20s event and a Civil War re-enactment. Over Labor Day weekend, Cowtown will feature extra shows, demonstrations and catered food in honor of the Chisholm Trail’s 150th anniversary.
Though it’s open year-round, the museum’s full slate of activities and shows is available spring through fall.
