Pratt
County Historical Museum
click
here for more information about the history of Pratt, Kansas.
Guest
Hours:
Mon - Fri: 1 pm to 4 pm
Sat & Sun: 1 pm to 3 pm
Closed major holidays.
Also by appointment.
Reservations are recommended
for tours, meetings & large groups |
|
208
South Ninnescah
(1 block east & 1 block south of the junction of U.S. highways
281 & 54)
620-672-7874
The phone is answered 24/7 either by a person or to leave a
message on the answering machine.
Admission is free.
Donations are welcomed.
Gallery
1 I Gallery 2 I Gallery 3
I Gallery 4 I Main Street
The Pratt County Historical Society was founded in 1967, and
dedicated to the preservation of Pratt County, Kansas, and the
prairie history. Through a bequest from Blanche Fincham Taylor
the society has been able to develop the 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 2
Gallery
2 has period rooms.
The
judge presides over the courtroom. 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 3
Crossing
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 4
As
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.
