| Main Page | Community Calendar |
|
|
|
||||
Pratt County |
|||||
| You are here: | Main Page > Historical Museum |
|
 Our Library and Research area contains early Pratt County photographs, vital statistics, marriage records, plus many maps, family histories, and accounts of Pratt County towns and communities.
Gallery 1
Gallery 1 tells the history of Pratt County back to the dinosaurs and you can see some fossils.
Our Native American artifacts give evidence of hunting excursions into this area before 1500 and features a beautiful mural of an Osage village. You will see a model of Skunk Johnson's cave and learn the hardships of an early day trapper and his exciting escape from the Indians. When you view the covered wagon, with bows dating to 1878, you can visualize the pioneers coming along the trails to establish homesteads. You will see their sod-buster plows, and learn how they broke the sod to build their homes out on the open prairie. You will see their quilts, fashions, baby clothes, handwork, toys, hand-forged tools, etc. It is a rich collection of Pratt County history detailing the founding of each Pratt County town and community. 
Gallery 2Gallery 2 has period rooms.The judge presides over the courtoom. A late 19th Century dental office and a room of medical equipment make us grateful for the wonder of modern medical science. The bedroom is complete with a corner for baby. The parlor and dining room are beautifully decorated in pioneer style. If you wonder how the pioneer woman cooked in such a kitchen, there are recipes on display describing how to "do it from scratch." Just outside the kitchen is the back porch complete with laundry, cream separator and churn. The fuel bin "out back" is next to the cave which serves as a cool place for food storage, as well as a family shelter from prairie storms. As you complete the tour around Gallery 2, you see the "school marm" instructing her pupils in the little rural school house.
Gallery 3Crossing through the display of farm machinery you enter Gallery 3 at the Hardware Store.The Wheat Doll, dedicated to the wheat farmers of Pratt County who had the courage to endure the hardships of our pioneer days, presides over the three main industries that helped build Pratt County -- cattle, agriculture and oil. Examples of farm machinery, including a miniature display, illustrate early day farming methods. You will think that you are in an old time village as you stroll past The Print Shop, the undertaker, carpenter shop, village blacksmith, auto repair shop, the fire house, the Coterie Library and the photographer. The large Military Display includes every American war back to the Spanish-American. Our music room features one of Pratt County's first record players, radio, TV, and the radio broadcasting studio. The importance of the coming of the railroad is evident in the large display area featuring a three-quarter size caboose.
Gallery 4As you move into the drug store, with an old-time soda fountain, you may also view the WWII Pratt Army Air Base display.At the top of the stairway we feature a complete chapel dating to the 1950's in which we can accommodate small weddings and services. Pratt is the home of the Miss Kansas Pageant and a display of pictures features each Miss Kansas since 1955, and the three who went on to become Miss America. Other areas include medical equipment of Pratt County doctors, the history of the 4-H and Pratt County Fair, the Masonic Lodge and the IOOF Lodge, and the Pratt Regional Medical Center.
Main Street
Our "Old Time Main Street, Pratt County, Kansas," is located inside the museum so that you can enjoy the displays rain or shine.
Walking down the board walk on Main Street is an old-style way to "window-shop." The Tonsorial features hot baths, shaves and haircuts. Our Land Office contains many interesting early-day maps and law books. The Post Office, Bank and Telephone Office were authentic Pratt County establishments. You will enjoy entering the General Store, complete with butcher shop. After leaving the Livery Stable, which is complete with tack room, small forge for horseshoe repair and veterinarian instruments, don't try to pass a file to that man in the Jail House. Look out for the horse and buggy as you cross the street to the ice house where you can learn the art of cutting ice from mill ponds and can see sacks of newly ground wheat in front of the Mill door. Along the board walk is buried the Centennial Time Capsule of the City of Pratt to be opened in 2034.
Gene Rose CollectionA woodworking hobby has resulted in a remarkable collection of miniature wood reproductions. Gene Rose, in his "spare time," has crafted replicas of early model cars, airplanes, and trains.The airplane collection begins with the renowned World War I Jenny and includes many models flown in World War II. There are six complete trains on tracks so realistic one expects them to report for duty. Most spectacular, however, is the miniature pioneer village. Included in its twenty buildings are the church, school, hardware store, livestock sale, pens, lumber yard, bank, mill, fire station, livery, and a train waiting at the stations. Many of the buildings are completely furnished on the inside. Mr. Rose is also a collector. His display of scale model pioneer farm machines and wagons, as well as sailing ships, several of which were crafted by Mr. Rose, is spectacular. 
Beside the miniature pioneer village, Mr. Rose has also made a miniature farmstead which features many of the barns, sheds, etc., beside the farm house where the table is set waiting for the men to come in for a meal. |
 |
Pratt Convention and Tourism Committee
114 N Main, Pratt, KS 67124 (620) 672-5501 · Toll Free: 888-886-1164 · [email protected] |
|
Hosted by
|
Last updated February 22, 2006
by Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce, [email protected]
© Copyright 2004 Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce |
 ·w3c ·Bobby 508 |
