When I was a kid, the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City was a gloriously cheesy tourist trap—and I loved every dusty mannequin and clunky sound effect. Nothing warms my heart like a plastic cowboy and a mechanical sheriff with glowing red eyes. Classic roadside charm.
But here’s the surprise: Boot Hill grew up. Or maybe I did? Either way, the museum has had a serious glow-up. It’s still fun and Western, but now it’s smart, interactive, and honestly, one of the best museums in Kansas.
The collection is layered—history, humor, and some wild trivia. As a proud shot glass collector (no shame), I got way too excited learning that a rifle cartridge and a shot of whiskey both cost a dime back in the day. Hence: the term “shot.” Mind. Blown.
The museum doesn’t shy away from the gritty stuff—brawls, brothels, and all the wildness you’d expect—but it balances that with thoughtful stories, like the egalitarian structures in many Plains tribes, where men and women were equals. It’s the Wild West with nuance.
The interactive exhibits are a highlight. TVs are tucked into vintage furniture, bringing old Dodge to life with first-person storytelling. Saloon keepers, opera singers, railroad workers—everyone’s got a story.
There’s also a solid section on the railroad and the legendary Fred Harvey. One of his dining chairs is on display, and I can confidently say: it’s hideous. Great food, questionable taste.
Don’t miss the smaller building with the Hollywood take on Dodge—Gunsmoke fans, rejoice. Glenn Strange’s bartender vest is there, and yes, it’s a costume from a show about a time that’s being reinterpreted again. It’s history on history on history.
And of course, there’s Boot Hill itself—the infamous cemetery. Most of the bodies were moved in the 1870s, but the ghost stories (and some rumors) still linger.
The reconstructed town is a treat. I poked around the General Store, peeked inside the Long Branch Saloon, and scored a Long Branch-themed shot glass that wasn’t even in the gift shop. Treasure hunting, Western-style.
There’s also a whole building of Old West firearms. I don’t speak fluent gun, so I mostly wandered through going, “Ooh, shiny.” But Bat Masterson’s .45 is pretty great, even if I mostly know him from Drunk History.
Oh—and plot twist—the Dodge City Cowboy Band once played at President Benjamin Harrison’s inauguration. I noticed because Harrison is a fellow Phi Delt. Small world. Big mustaches.
Then there’s Rev. Ormond Wright, Dodge’s church leader who invited Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp to be deacons, let the saloon singer sing hymns, and basically invented the first come-as-you-are church service. I’d go.
So, yeah—Boot Hill surprised me. It’s a place that’s equal parts rowdy and reflective, silly and sincere. The Old West still has a few new tricks up its sleeve.
Check out the other Road Trips that include Dodge City: