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Hype for the Future 14/284: Mama y Papa, the Characteristics of the Thirteen Colonies and the present United States

According to novaTopFlex, the Commonwealths of Virginia and Massachusetts are truly opposed in their origin stories toward a United States of America. The United States would begin with the Old Dominion (State), the Commonwealth of Virginia, maternal in literally giving birth to a proud and glorious nation while also largely being blamed for lingering societal problems in our national identity. Only slightly later would the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies be settled, and their […]

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2025/11/15/hype-for-the-future-14-284-mama-y-papa-the-characteristics-of-the-thirteen-colonies-and-the-present-united-states/

Hype for the Future 14/284: Mama y Papa, the Characteristics of the Thirteen Colonies and the present United States

According to novaTopFlex, the Commonwealths of Virginia and Massachusetts are truly opposed in their origin stories toward a United States of America. The United States would begin with the Old Dom…

novaTopFlex

guide2museums.com Feb 22, 2025

Lafayette Science Museum: From Dinosaurs to the Space Age in Louisiana

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum blends education with interactive fun, making it an excellent attraction. Covering all kinds of “science,” the museum highlights Louisiana’s unique natural history and cultural heritage.

Foreground dinosaur is a Saurophagan in the Lafayette Science Center. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

If there’s a dinosaur involved, I’ll pick it every time! So, my favorite exhibit at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum is the Paleontology exhibit. Their archive has nearly 150,000 specimens, so there’s a lot to see!

An Albertosaurus (the large dinosaur) checking out a Herrersaurus for lunch. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

The rarest fossils at the Lafayette Science Center are those of a Megatylopus. What’s a megatylopus? Basically, it’s an ancient giraffe-like fossil camel that stands 12 to 14 feet tall. This skeleton is the most complete known of for this type of giant from the Late Miocene to Pliocene epochs.

Fast Fact: This megatylopus was discovered in 2014 in Oregon. Two technologies were used to excavate the skeletons. 1) 3D laser scan of the site before excavations. And 2) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to discover other bones beneath the surface.

When was Pliocene Epoch? About 13.6 to 1.8 million years ago, so almost yesterday in world history!

Here are some of the exhibits I found most intriguing:

Fossil casts from the late Jurassic Period or Age of Dinosaurs: Allosaurs, Camptosaurus, and Stegosaurus. Time period: 199 to 145 million years ago.
Mastodon and mammoth fossils that first appeared in the Miocene epoch, around 24 to 5 million years ago when they diverged from other elephant-like relatives
Saber-tooth tiger remains from the Pleistocene epoch about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago.

Killer teeth models for prehistoric dinosaurs. Photo by Linda Aksomitis. Fast Fact: Ancient animals needed killer teeth as illustrated above. Allosaurus teeth had a wider gap, so it could open its mouth at a 92-degree angle. Albertosaurus teeth had features that helped spread strain from biting and feeding to protect the tooth from breaking. Tyrannosaurus may have had it all. Its large, sharp, strong teeth could regrow every few years. It needed to, as the Tyrannosaurus bite force helped it crush bones while snacking!

And of course, there’s also a Prehistoric Louisiana or Ice Age Acadiana exhibit. It has fossils from sites like Jefferson Island, Avery Island and Acadia Parish. As you’ll learn, during the Pleistocene, Louisiana’s landscape was very different than it is now.

What was the Pleistocene Era like?

The Pleistocene Era is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago. It spanned the Earth’s most recent period of repeated glaciations. Humans first appeared during this period.

You can learn more from the YouTube video, The Pleistocene Era.

The Pleistocene Epoch was basically an ice age. You can learn more at this PBS article on the Pleistocene Epoch.

What’s in the Lafayette Science Museum?

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum is situated in downtown Lafayette. It has over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space.

Giant Nile crocodile from Mozambique — exhibition panels tell its story. Story boards also explain how to tell crocodiles from local, Louisiana alligators. It’s really all about their snouts and teeth!

Started in 1969, it was first named the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium. In 1992 the museum relocated to the downtown to be more accessible. It became the Lafayette Science Museum in 2009, then the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum in 2022.

Fast Fact: How hot is hot? A geology exhibit explains it's really hot -- from 0 to 800 degrees Celsius! Hydrothermal minerals form at the Earth's surface, like the travertine you see in the pools at Yellowstone National Park. Water heating underground is what makes Old Faithful erupt.

The Exhibits

There are lots of amazing exhibits in addition to the Paleontology area. Here are some.

Solar system touch panel. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Virtual Reality Laboratory Experience. The eight stations immerse visitors in diverse adventures such as exploring outer space or the depths of the ocean.
Petroleum Industry Exhibit. Artifacts and signage detail the history of the petroleum industry.
Ethnographic Collection. Here, artifacts represent the diverse cultural communities of Acadiana and Southeast Louisiana.
Nanotechnology Exhibit. This interactive exhibit uses hands-on displays to introduce visitors to nonoscale science, engineering, and technology.
The Crawl Space. This interactive exhibit has — you guessed it — live terrariums with all kinds of bugs.
Planetarium. This second floor attraction has a 40 ft (12.2 meter) dome and seats 72 people. It shows various live and prerecorded programs included in your regular museum admission.

Fast Fact: The British were the first to use rockets in the New World. Indeed, they used them against the United States in the War of 1812. The rockets inspired the phrase "rockets' red glare" in the lyrics in the Star Spangled Banner.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

I’ve visited Louisiana many times (it’s one of my favorite states), but didn’t spend time in Lafayette until this trip. Years earlier, we’d been driving through and got caught up with the Mardi Gras day parade. That day, we ate in one of my favorite Southern chains, Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. Try the biscuits. They’re delicious.

Biscuits and cornbread muffin at Cracker Barrel. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

During my last five day stay, I attended a conference at the Cajundome, so had lots of time to explore. I enjoyed my stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, opposite the Cajundome. While most of my meals were at the conference, I found great authentic local dishes at the Acadian Superette. Do try their boudin — it’s amazing!

Even though Lafayette is just a small city of around 122,000, there’s lots to do. If you’re visiting with kids, their Children’s Museum of Acadiana is a perfect stop. I even enjoyed the colorful centers and activities.

And if you want to learn more about the local culture, the living history Vermilionville Village is perfect.

Atchafalya Basin Landing swamp tour. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

On an earlier trip I also took part in the Atchafalya Basin Landing swamp tours. If you’re a first-timer to Louisiana, a swamp tour is a must!

Who Should Visit the Lafayette Science Museum?

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum is one of those museums that has something for everyone.

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It’s a great stop for families and children. All of the interactive hands-on installations are both fun and educational.

Of course, schools and educators are frequent visitors.

For those interested in Louisiana culture, you’ll learn a lot here about the natural history.

And if you love stars, the museum’s state-of-the-art planetarium has the highest-resolution screen in Louisiana.

The museum is fully accessible for families and those with other physical challenges. I spent about three hours to explore the exhibits, but wasn’t able to stay for the show at the planetarium.

How Do You Visit the Lafayette Science Museum?

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum is situated in downtown Lafayette. It’s surrounded by various amenities.

Parking: Visitors can find metered street parking. There are also parking garages nearby: Parc-Auto du Centreville at 121 E. Vermillion Street and the South Buchanan Street Garage at 809 South Buchanan Street.

Museum street address: 433 Jefferson St., Lafayette, Louisiana

The Lafayette Science Museum is open year-round. However, you’ll need to check days and hours open at the museum website.

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening with the UL Lafayette Science Museum Facebook page.

Take a virtual tour of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

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novaTopFlex Oct 28

Seneca Falls, New York

Seneca Falls is a hamlet located east of Waterloo and west of Auburn, New York, within Seneca County. Within Seneca County, New York, the principal progressive movement of the community was largely connected to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, and associated individuals and with the greater community. The community is also largely determined by improvements in voting rights that have also contributed to the power of social roles regarding demographics.

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/seneca-falls-new-york/

Seneca Falls, New York

Seneca Falls is a hamlet located east of Waterloo and west of Auburn, New York, within Seneca County. Within Seneca County, New York, the principal progressive movement of the community was largely…

novaTopFlex

guide2museums.com Oct 16

Inside the Cattle Raisers Museum: Fort Worth, Texas

Visit Fort Worth, Texas, to explore all aspects of raising cattle in the Southwest United States. The Cattle Raisers Museum, located in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, shows how cattle ranching shaped the economy, culture, and landscapes of Texas and at least 20 other states.

Longhorn cattle display in the Cattle Raisers Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

I lived on a cattle ranch for many years — in fact, a few of my books for YA readers are about driving cattle in the old west.

Buy Amazon audiobook or ebook.

So, I found all the history interesting — but the I’m in What display jumped out as my favorite.

It was full of fascinating pieces of information!

Beef at the grocery store, of course, is the main thing we get from cattle.

Its essential nutrients include protein, iron, B-vitamins and others.

More than 2/3 of beef at the store meet government guidelines for lean.

However, there’s a lot more as I learned. Uses can be edible by-products or inedible by-products or medical by-products. How many by-product uses can you name?

What are some important by-products of beef?

Beef by-products are found in hospitals and drug stores. Where? Collagen from beef hides is used in medical applications for such things as wound dressings, burn ointments, surgical sutures, and tissue regeneration. Ground beef-derived materials are also used for biomedical research, dental fillings, and some orthopedic products like bone screws. Wow! Who knew?

As well, medical by-products include more than 100 individual drugs!

Got allergies or are diabetic? Insulin, vaccines, and allergy medications have traditionally used beef by-products. Indeed, it takes the pancreases from 26 cattle to provide enough insulin to keep one diabetic person alive for a year.

Beef by-products are also used in firecrackers! Indeed, beef collagen-based casings or binders can replace or supplement traditional materials like white clay or paper tubes. Why? They provide moisture resistance and durability, so they protect the firecracker’s explosive powders until ignition.

When you’re washing your face, you may be using another important beef by-product. It’s called beef tallow, which is rendered from beef fat. This ingredient moisturizes and nourishes the skin with natural vitamins like A, D, E, and K. It also contains natural antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that reduce skin irritation and promote clearer skin.

Beef fats yield oleo stock and oleo oil used for margarine and shortening. Oleo stearin is used in making chewing gum and some candies.

Gelatin produced from bones and skins is used in marshmallows, ice cream, canned meats, and gelatin desserts!

And here are a few more uses:

Stearick acid, used in making rubber for tires that are more durable, is derived from beef tallow
Beef tallow contributes to producing lubricants found in hydraulic brake fluids and antifreeze
Beef tallow is converted into sodium tallowate and used in many traditional laundry soaps and detergents
Leather from the hide of cattle is used to make many types of sporting goods from footballs to ball gloves
Collagen is used in various sports strings and bindings, like tennis racket strings and bowstrings, due to their strong and flexible properties
Products such as adhesives and greases derived from beef fat may be used in equipment maintenance or assembly
Camel hair artists’ brushes are actually made from the fine hair found in the ears and tails of beef cattle
Bones, horns, and hooves are used to produce buttons, bone china, piano keys, glues, fertilizer, gelatin for photographic film, paper, wallpaper, sandpaper, combs, toothbrushes and violin string

How many uses did you list? This is just a starter list, so you may have found lots of the additional ones listed on this PDF from Iowa State Extension and Outreach.

Bronze statue called Old Blue, 1995, by George Carlson. Gift to the museum from Anne W. Marion. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

What’s in the Cattle Raisers Museum?

The Cattle Raisers Museum occupies around 10,000 square feet. It’s located on the second floor of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in the Cultural District.

Fast Fact: Four out of every five people in the Southwest U.S. live in cities occupying 15% of the land. Of the remaining 85% of land in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, more than half is used for raising nearly 18 million cattle. ~ Cattle Raisers Museum

Visitors explore history in three main chronological sections:

1690 to 1890: Origins of Texas ranching and the first cattle drives of the 1850s. This section includes how cattle were introduced by Spanish settlers and era of vaqueros (cowboy or cattle herder)
1890 to 1950: The gradual end of raising cattle on the open range due to barbed wire fences, railroads, and Ft. Worth’s transformation into a cattle market and meatpacking center
1950 to the present: Modern ranching practices and technologies

There are interactive galleries with video storytelling and holograms that I found very engaging. After all, I haven’t met many animated talking cattle! Artifacts include things like saddles, spurs, western hats, tools, and rare photographs. Floor-to-ceiling informational panels provide tons of information.

The Western Trail information panel in the Cattle Raisers Museum. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

When you visit the Cattle Raisers Museum, try to leave enough time to visit the other travel attractions in Fort Worth’s Cultural District.

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Four additional world renowned museums including the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Amon Carer Museum of American Art
Will Rogers Memorial Center: Historic home to the annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, as well as other events
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Fort Work Zoo

We did the Cowgirl Museum and the Science and History Museum, which gave us a discount for doing both on the same day.

If you want to rest your feet between visiting the museums, stop at the Exhibit Cafe in the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The Texas 2 Step plate was tasty!

Who Should Visit the Cattle Raisers Museum?

The Cattle Raisers Museum will be of interest to anyone involved in ranching or farming, past or present. It’s also a great place to get an understanding of how the cattle industry has impacted the history of the Southwest.

Fast Fact: Ranching and doing cattle drives wasn't just the domain of men in the southwest. For example, in 1873, a widow, Margaret Borland, drove her herd of 2,500 head up the Chisholm Trai from Victoria, Texas, to Kansas. In 1888, Willie Matthews, 19, disguised herself as a boy and worked the trail to Colorado for four months undetected. During the Civil War, small ranches were maintained by the wives and daughers of absent soldiers. ~ Cattle Raisers Museum

We spent an hour going through the museum, but I was already familiar with a lot of the history. If it’s your first Texas visit or if you know little about ranching, allow at least double that time.

Leonard Stiles Branding Iron Collection — Selected Highlights. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

While there are some fun interactives, kids 10+ will likely find the museum more interesting than younger children.

The museum is wheelchair and handicapped accessible. There are some wheelchairs available for guests on a first-come, first-served basis.

How Do You Visit the Cattle Raisers Museum?

The Cattle Raisers Museum is easy to find in Fort Worth’s Cultural District.

Parking: There's lots of paid parking available in the Cultural District. Closest parking is in the Museum Lot located at the northeast corner of Montgomery Street and Harley Avenue, adjacent to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Street Address: 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, Texas, on the 2nd Floor of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

The museum is open year-round, but you can check days and hours open on the Cattle Raisers Museum website.

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening at the museum with the Cattle Raisers Museum Facebook page.

Take a virtual tour with this Cattle Raisers Museum video on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

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More Texas Museum Reviews

Check out more of our reviews for museums in Texas.

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guide2museums.com Sep 19

Front Street Cowboy Museum: Ogallala, Nebraska

The Front Street Cowboy Museum is all about the wild, wild west and driving Texas Longhorn cattle. Located in Ogallala, Nebraska, this visitor attraction brings the town’s rich Old West history to life.

Front Street in Ogallala, Nebraska. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

Like most people, I enjoy a good story. And there are no better stories than the myths of supernatural creatures. In Nebraska, that creature is the Sandhills Warrior Rabbit. The museum even has one in its collection!

Nebraska Sandhills Warrior Rabbit – the image is from a rabbit taxidermy photo taken in the museum and a software generated background. Image by Linda Aksomitis.

The warrior rabbit draws on the the American traditional tale of the Jackalope. These Jackalope tales originate from hybrid animal stories around the world.

Where did the Jackalope tale originate?

One of the earliest stories of a horned rabbit is from 13th-century Persia. The jackalope legend stems from a rare virus called Shope papilloma virus that infects rabbits and causes horn-like keratin tumors to grow. It’s believed that these tumors inspired folklore about horned or “warrior” rabbits.

Scientific research shows that rabbits with these horn-like growths are real but rare. They’re not a distinct species.

But back to the midwest. In 1932 two brothers in Douglas, Wyoming, studied taxidermy by mail order. One day, one of them tossed a rabbit carcass they planned to work on into their taxidermy collection where it came to rest beside a pair of deer antlers. That gave young Douglas Herrick an idea.

Doug and his brother mounted the rabbit with horns and sold it to a local hotel owner. From there, the story grew and grew and grew with the brothers’ taxidermy sales. Other taxidermists manufactured the rabbits right into the 21st century.

The jackalope has appeared in books, poems, television shows video games and mokumentaries.

Today, tourists can even buy a Jackalope Hunting License in Douglas.

So, the Nebraska Sandhills Warrior Rabbit is one of a group of tall tale animals. This type of tall tale is known as “fearsome critters” and is common to North American culture since the early 1900s.

Indeed, the warrior rabbit has supernatural powers making it a fierce, resilient animal able to survive in the Sandhills.

If you enjoy fearsome critter tales, The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward, Wisconsin, is home to another fearsome critter — the hodag.

What’s in the Front Street Cowboy Museum?

Front Street in Ogallala, Nebraska, is a replica town of the 1880s old west cowboy town. At the time, Ogallala was a major cattle-driving and cattle-shipping hub.

How did Ogallala become a cattle-shipping hub?

Early in U.S. history, the Chisholm Trail was the trail of choice for driving cattle to the northern states looking for higher prices. The Chisholm Trail ran from the Rio Grande or San Antonio to the railhead of the Kansas Pacific Railway in Abilene. From there, the cattle were shipped to the more populated states in the East.

However, the Chisholm Trail was cut off when farmers began settling and fencing eastern Oklahoma and Kansas. The new Texas Trail (also called Western Trail) grew up from Dodge City to the Union Pacific railhead in Ogallala.

While Dodge City was the end of the trail for some outfits, others with younger stock pushed north to Ogallala. These were sold to ranchers in the area to fatten over the summer and ship out in the fall.

Ogallala became a seasonal gathering place. Saloons were hopping in the spring with Texas cattle bosses selling cattle to local cattlemen. In the fall, action stepped up again as the ranchers brought their steers off the grass to ship east.

As many as 125,000 head of cattle were brought to Ogallala each year.

Ogallala’s heyday as a cow town ended in 1884, when an epidemic of Texas fever caused heavy losses of cattle in Nebraska. States began to enact quarantine laws to protect their livestock. While a few cattle still trickled into Ogallala, the town soon settled into a farming community.

These connected building fronts are filled with memorabilia and cowboy artifacts from the era. Building fronts include:

Livery Barn Cafe (Restaurant)
Crystal Palace Saloon (Cold Beer in Ogallala’s famed saloon that saw many gunfights in its hey-day)
Front Street Cowboys Rest (Buffalo burgers, mountain oysters (bull testicles), steaks, and more)
Undertaker (Death by gunfights happened on a regular basis to the undertaker’s shop and hearse were important)
Tonsorial Palace (1870s style barber shop)
Jail (includes the Sheriff’s office)
General Store

Replica buildings on Front Street – Livery Barn, Saloon, Caretaker, Tonsorial Palace, and Jail. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Front Street is listed on Wikipedia as being on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Keith County, Nebraska.

Some Front Street Displays

Front Street is all about the stories of cowboys, cattle drives, and outlaws. There are lots of different artifacts and photos to bring the stories to life.

Fast Fact: A Black Cowboy Memorial located at Grand Island, Nebraska, honors Amos Harris who died in February, 1911. Thousands of black cowboys rode the rails, driving millions of cattle north. Many of them were the best riders, ropers and wranglers.
~ Front Street Cowboy Museum

Here are some displays I particularly enjoyed.

Soiled Doves – Saloon Women in Ogallala during the Texas Cattle Drive Days. Photos and displays show their costumes, lifestyles, and challenges working for Madams like “Big Alice.”
Cowboy gear from boots and spurs to holsters and revolvers.
Sheriffs who served the town. One display honors Martin DePriest, a Texan who came up the trail in 1877. He served for 11 years and was injured a number of times. He was known for his deliberate coolness in the face of danger, rather than relying on punches or his guns.
Information about Buffalo Bill Cody.
Native Americans of Ogallala. Various displays provide the history of the local Sioux people.
Trails West features paintings, artifacts, and books written about life on a cattle drive.

Spurs of various types. The mail saddlebag belonged to the Paxton Ranch north of nearby Keystone, Nebraska. Niel Scully worked for the ranch and carried the mail by Pony Express from Ogallala to the Paxton Ranch for distribution as there wasn’t a post office in Keystone. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

You can also relive the Old West watching the Front Street Crystal Palace Revue. With 60+ seasons, it’s the longest-running summer stock theatre in Nebraska.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

Ogallala is a great destination for those who love the old west. Geographically, it’s also in a fascinating area. Indeed, Nebraska’s sandhill dunes cover about 20,000 square miles and are believed to be the largest dune field in the Western hemisphere. They were formed about 8,000 years ago and designated a National Natural Landmark in 1984.

Boot Hill. Pin me!

Be sure to visit Boot Hill while you’re in Ogallala. It was established during the Texas Trail era of the late 1800s.

Some buried there met their end in saloons and gambling halls.

Rattlesnake Ed, who was shot over a card game at the Cowboys Rest Saloon, was one of them.

In direct contrast, you can also visit Mansion on the Hill. This Victorian style home was completed in 1887 — Ogallala’s finest home at the time. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and worth the visit.

Also, I recommend a stop at the Petrified Wood Gallery while you’re in Ogallala. The gallery includes a collection of fossils and hand-crafted petrified wood figures made by Harvey and Howard Kenfieldin. I also found the 92 pewter figures of Native Americans, cowboys, and cavalry soldiers impressive.

Who Should Visit Front Street Cowboy Museum?

Front Street Cowboy Museum is a great stop for anyone interested in the wild and rugged days of the old west and cattle drives.

Indeed, the town was integral to the Lonesome Dove tv miniseries.

It takes a couple of hours to go through the exhibits, although you can spend more time stopping for a meal or drink.

The museum is family-friendly. It also has ramps and flat walkways in the replica 1880s street to aid those using strollers or who have mobility issues.

Stagecoach. Pin me!

How Do You Visit Front Street Cowboy Museum?

Front Street Cowboy Museum is located at the intersection of Interstate 80 (I-80), US-26, and Nebraska Highway N-61.

Parking: Free parking is adjacent to the museum.

Location: 519 East 1st St Ogallala, Nebraska.

The museum has free / donations only admission and is open year-round. Check for hours on the Front Street Cowboy Museum website.

Take a virtual tour of the museum with Backroads Tourist on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google Maps.

Acknowledgments

These stops were all part of a Fam tour hosted by the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau, Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau, and Nebraska Tourism Commission.

More Places to See in Nebraska

Check out all of guide2museum.com’s reviews of museums in Nebraska.

Read More Reviews of Heritage Museums

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guide2museums.com Jun 11, 2025

Fort Worth Museum of Science & History: Museum School™

Museum School™ (Fort Worth Museum of Science & History) in Fort Worth was founded in 1950. Its purpose? To introduce children to the wonders of the world around them through informal science and history education. However, it’s also a fascinating place to visit for everyone from preschoolers to grandparents!

Paluxysurus Jonesi – a sauropod dinosaur – measures about 60 ft long, stands about 12 ft high at the shoulder, and would weigh around 20 tons. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

It was easy to see how parents, teachers, and students could spend a lot of time at the museum! I was particularly interested in the Energy Blast exhibit area. My favorite part? The Command Unit Truck.

What’s the purpose of a Command Unit truck? It’s the center that collects data for seismic mapping. Seismic mapping identifies oil, gas, and mineral deposits throughout the state.

Truck used in seismic mapping. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

While we’re all used to a variety of maps that show things like highways and rivers, seismic maps show what’s under the ground instead of on top.

Fast Fact: Seismic mapping is basically a rock concert! Why? Because vibe trucks transmit vibrations, or sound (a type of energy made by vibrations), far into the rock inside the earth.

How does seismic mapping work?

The Command Unit truck computer equipment controls the huge amounts of data collected.
Locations are pre-selected to “look” below the ground.
Vibe trucks go to selected locations and set pads down.
The Command Unit operator triggers the Vibe trucks to vibrate.
Geophones record vibrations bouncing back from rock formations deep underground.
Vibe trucks record vibrations at hundreds of locations until all the data needed is collected.

Display showing equipment used in seismic mapping. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

The sound is recorded by the instruments in the Command Unit. Finally, geophysicists create 3D images from the data.

What’s in the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History?

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is situated in the city’s Cultural District. The museum is integrated into a complex that contains several art museums, the Cattle Raisers Museum, the OmniTheater IMAX Dome, the Fort Worth Flyover, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

Paluxysaurus jonesi, the sauropod dinosaur, lives in the sun-filled atrium. He’s one of the main attractions.

How was Paluxysurus jonesi named?

The dinosaur’s name comes from the location of the dig site on the Jones Ranch in Hood County, Texas. Paluxy, on the Paluxy River, was nearby.

In 2009, Paluxysaurus jonesi became the official State Dinosaur by a bill passed in the Texas State Legislature.

Created to make science and history accessible, the museum is a very hands-on experience. In fact, the Innovation Studios area has five hands-on labs for young people. They include inventor, doodler, designer, imaginer, and explorer.

There’s also more to learn about dinosaurs in the Dinolabs exhibit.

Fast Fact: Fossils go through a process called permineralization to become stone. First, the body is buried. Second, ground water fills up all the empty spaces - including cells. Third, the water slowly dissolves the organic matter leaving minerals behind. After the process is complete, what was once bone is now rock!
~ Fort Worth Science and History Museum

Various types of fossils are displayed in Dinolabs, including a pterodactyl skeleton from the Mesozoic Era.

My favorite part of Dinolabs was the enormous cast of a dinosaur footprint.

Standing in it definitely made me wonder what it would be like to have lived in the time of the dinosaurs!

There’s also a replica paleontology site outdoors, so kids can dig for fossils themselves.

Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

The Children’s Museum Exhibit is fun for the very young. It’s all about play, whether that’s shopping in the kid-sized grocery store or building a train.

Entrance to the Fort Worth Children’s Museum in the Fort Worth Science and History Museum. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

There’s also a 9/11 Tribute featuring Column N-101, a beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It’s one of the largest verified artifacts in Texas.

And for everyone who loves the night sky, the 80-seat Noble Planetarium and Gallery is a great way to give your feet a break!

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

The main reason for our stop in Fort Worth was to visit the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum — and it was worth the stop! So, it was a nice surprise to find the other museum attractions in the same complex.

However, we didn’t set aside enough time to see everything, so do plan for a full day or two.

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Before our stop in Fort Worth, we’d had lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Wichita Falls, Texas, 125 miles away. It’s one of my favorite Southern chains!

And if you do stop in Wichita Falls, be sure to visit the Museum of North Texas History. With two halls and 15 additional display rooms, there’s lots to see there.

Don’t miss the 500 hats of (not Bartholomew Cubbins!) Nat Fleming.

Each hat is labeled with the name of the cowboy who owned it, then left it behind for a new one at The Cow Lot, Nat’s store.

After leaving Fort Worth, we headed into Waco for the night. The key attraction on our list of must-see places: the Dr Pepper Museum.

Who Should Visit the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History?

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is the perfect stop for families. For locals to road trippers, everyone will find something to enjoy.

We also found the introduction to the Texas Energy history and science good background for other stops later on our trip.

Since the exhibits are designed for educational purposes, they do a good job of breaking concepts down into fun, bite-sized pieces.

The museum is wheelchair and handicap accessible.

Exhibits are spacious, so there’s lots of room for children’s strollers and wheelchairs to get around. There are also some wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis for guests.

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As well as being accessible, the museum also is attentive to sensory needs. Families can use a Calming Room if required, and there are also sensory backpacks with items to help guests with sensory needs. Free Sensory Saturdays provide opportunities for anyone with autism and other developmental disabilities to explore the museum.

How Do You Visit the Fort Worth Science and History Museum?

The Fort Worth Science and History Museum is situated in the Fort Worth Cultural District. The district includes Dickies Arena, Will Rogers Memorial Center, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the top-rated Fort Worth Zoo.

Parking: Paid parking is available. The closest parking facility to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is the Harley Lot, located at the intersection of Harley Avenue & Montgomery Street.

Street address: 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, Texas.

Check the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History website for days open and admission costs.

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Facebook page.

Take a virtual tour of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in a Wikipedia Audio Article on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

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guide2museums.com May 21, 2025

Historic Home of 1800s Governor in Lafayette, LA: Alexandre Mouton

Alexandre Mouton was a statesman and governor in Louisiana. His Lafayette home, known now as the Lafayette Museum as well as the Alexandre Mouton House, has been restored to its 1848 grandeur. This makes it a key Lafayette attraction for visitors.

Mardi Gras costumes displayed at the Lafayette Museum in Louisiana. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.Fast Fact: The costumes in the Mardi Gras room are elaborate creations from various local krewes, spanning eras from the 1960s to the present.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

My favorite exhibit is typically one that’s unique and expands my knowledge of a place’s history — in the Mouton House, that was the Nun’s Room. It helped remind me of the diverse cultural and religious influences throughout Lafayette’s history. While Jean Mouton, who built the original parts of the Mouton house, was Acadian, Lafayette had many other influences.

Display of doll dressed as a nun and photograph with clippings about Mother Mary Clare (1875 – 1935). Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

The room honors the Mt. Carmel sisters who lived across the street for over 100 years. The Carmelite order traces back to Mount Carmel in northwestern Israel about 1155. Their rule was written between 1206 and 1214 by St. Albert.

Fast Fact: When a daughter entered the convent early in the 20th century, her hair was cut and customarily sent to New Orleans to be tatted into a wreath. Wreaths were often displayed in a shadow box with the nun's picture.

Other interesting artifacts and details included:

Picture of a young nun hand painted on porcelain
Mannequin dressed in a traditional nun’s habit worn up to 1967
Intricately crafted quilts
Small statue of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850 – 1917) who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Rosary passed down through generations, donated by Annamay Lucia (formerly Sister Mary Celestine)

What’s in the Lafayette Museum?

The city of Lafayette was founded by Jean Mouton. The original village (named Vermilionville) was laid out by Mouton and his surveyor, John Dinsmore, Jr. in 1821.

What’s the history of the Mouton House?

Jean Moutin’s original family home, a modest one-room house with a kitchen, was built around 1800. The purpose of this Acadian-style cottage was to provide a place for the family to stay when they went to town for Sunday church services.

It was built with traditional briquette entre poteaux construction? What was that? Brick infill between wooden posts. The kitchen, as was common in Louisiana, was a separate building connected with a covered walkway.

While the original house grew, the original kitchen is still on the site.

Alexandre Mouton, Jean’s son, was born there in 1804.

In 1820, Alexandre Mouton added three rooms to accommodate his growing family. The home was sold to Dr. W.G. Mills in 1849. He added a second floor, the third-floor cupola, and additional rooms that make up the house we visit today.

The house is an important piece of architecture, showing the evolution of buildings in the region.

The Mouton House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. An historical marker provides insights into the importance of the house in preserving local history.

Bedroom in the Mouton House. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Things you’ll note in the house as you explore the rooms include:

Hand-made functional furniture made by Cajun craftsmen
Recessed panels on doors
Crown moldings and tapered legs
Wrought iron butt hinges and locks

Lafayette Museum – Alexandre Mouton House by QuesterMark. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

You can view period furnishings and design in three historic structures:

Two-story main house with wooden porches on both the first and second floors
Acadian house connected by a covered wooden porch
Brick smokehouse

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

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Lafayette is at the heart of Acadiana, a Louisiana region known for its strong Cajun and Creole influences.

The city has a relaxed, fun vibe that you can’t resist.

In fact, you’ll likely find a festival or celebration happening in Lafayette whenever you decide to visit!

I was lucky to be visiting during the Festival Acadiens et Creole, with its food, music, and dancing. It was simply amazing!

Fast Fact: Zydeco music was born in rural Southwest Louisiana. It blends Louisiana French accordion and Afro-Caribbean music. Indeed, zydeco is a little bit Creole, Cajun, gospel, and blues!

When it comes to museums and historic sites, these were my favorite in Lafayette:

Who Should Visit the Lafayette Museum / Mouton House?

The Lafayette Museum is an attraction that contributes a lot to showcasing two centuries of Louisiana history.

Starting with the Acadian influences, you’ll also find a lot of information on the Civil War. Artifacts link to Governor Alexandre Mouton and his son, Confederate General Alfred Mouton.

For those interested in architecture, the three historic structures are must-sees.

Some exhibits are interactive, so Mouton House is a good family destination. The guides are great and happy to answer any questions.

There’s limited accessibility for those with mobility issues, due to the preservation of the historic structure.

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There isn’t an elevator, so visitors unable to climb stairs will only be able to view the first floor.

How Do You Visit the Lafayette Museum / Mouton House?

Lafayette, Louisiana, is a key transportation hub in the Southern United States. So, it’s intersected by several major highways, including I-10 and I-49.

Parking: The museum has street parking and bus parking.

Street Address: 1122 Lafayette Street, Lafayette, LA

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The museum is open year-round, but check the Lafayette Museum website for days and hours open, as well as admission costs.

Check the Lafayette Museum Facebook page for the latest updates.

Take a short virtual tour of the Lafayette Museum with Explore Louisiana on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

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guide2museums.com May 12, 2025

See 100 Miles Across Nebraska From Scotts Bluff National Monument

The U.S. Government recognized Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, as an official National Monument in 1919. Located near Gering in Western Nebraska, this landmark helped guide pioneers on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails.

Scottsbluff National Monument. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

The museum at the Scottsbluff National Monument is called the Oregon Trail Museum and Visitor Center. While the museum is small, its exhibits are packed with information.

My favorite?

I have to say I found the stories of the first European fur traders to visit the area the most interesting. Of course, the fact that reproduced pages from their journal indicate the first group visited on Christmas Day, 1812, makes the visit a little more memorable.

Fast Fact: Seven fur traders left from Astor's Trading Post on the Columbia River in Oregon. They headed to St. Louis following a new route that stopped at the Scottsbluff landmark. That route eventually became the Oregon Trail. Unfortunately for the men, the War of 1812 obscured their discovery.

Later, in 1825, Hiram Scott, a fur trader employed by General William H. Ashley’s Rocky Mountain Fur Company came through with his group. While stories vary, the museum narrates the story beginning with a group of fur traders being attacked and one injured.

Scott was the injured man. Two other men were detailed by Sublette, an agent of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, to take Scott downstream to the great bluffs where they’d be met. However, one disaster followed another, and the boat capsized en route.

The tragedy of Hiram Scott display. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

The men had no food or dry gunpowder to defend themselves and panicked. They deserted Scott and caught up to the main party reporting that Scott had died.

But he hadn’t — at least not yet — instead he dragged himself to the bluffs. Of course, he had no food or water and did soon die.

The following spring, Sublette’s hunters found his skeleton. By tacit agreement, the great bluffs became a monument to Scott’s memory.

What’s at Scotts Bluff National Monument

Scotts Bluff National Monument is a rock of sorts, a formation of sandstone, siltstone, volcanic ash and limestone topped off with a caprock, or “lid,” of hard limestone that keeps it from eroding. It has 740 feet of continuous geological strata visible along the north face of Scotts Bluff.

What’s a bluff?

For me, the term “bluff” is where speaking “American” and “Canadian” starts to become a problem. In Saskatchewan, at least, a bluff is a small outcropping of trees. According to Wikipedia it seems this meaning is restricted to the Canadian prairies. And when you find a bluff you won’t find any hills, rocky or otherwise.

However, according to National Geographic, a bluff is a type of broad, rounded cliff typically near water. Since it lists bluff formations everywhere from Mars to South Africa to the Cayman Islands, I have to surmise that our “local” version of the word is a little flawed.

Such is language.

On a clear day, you see for forever…or almost forever, at the top of Scotts Bluff. In fact, Laramie Peak,100 miles to the West, appears on the horizon.

Those early settlers walking the Oregon Trail must have been stunned to find it! And according to journals and letters many left behind, just the shade from the Ponderosa Pines at the higher elevations was a relief. Indeed, back when they were crossing Mitchell Pass, no trees grew along the North Platte River at all.

View from top of Scotts Bluff taken on a hike up the path. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

But that’s not what you’ll see today. In fact, the Park Service planted 23,000 shrubs and trees in the 1930s. Now, even if you’re not looking for a shady tree, I can guarantee the sights merit the time — and energy — however you decide to reach the top.

In addition to Mitchell Pass and Wyoming to the west, the Wildcat Hills appear to the south (bordering the side of the North Platte Valley) and Chimney Rock to the east.

Scotts Bluff Hiking Trails

A variety of hiking trails let you explore various parts of the
Scotts Bluff changing landscape. While short trails take you to the north and south rims of the bluff, the south trail gives you a view of Mitchell’s Pass.

Fast Fact: The oldest exposed rocks at Scotts Bluff are 33,000 years old. Each different colored layer of Scotts Bluff tells a new story of local conditions over the centuries. In fact, its exposed north face provides the longest geological history in Nebraska.

And of course, a longer trail goes all the way from the Visitor Center at the bottom, to the top of the bluff. It covers about a mile-and-a-half.

When that hot Nebraska sun is overhead though, you may want to go down the bluff rather than up! That still takes about half-an-hour with the terrain changes.

Viewing area at top of Scotts Bluff. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

For those not up to the hike, it’s easy to get to the top by Summit Road. My favorite part of the 1.6 mile drive? The three tunnels carved into the bluff. If you visit with an RV, or have a trailer in tow, the Visitor Center has a shuttle. Or, if your whole group wants to hike down — but not up — you can take the shuttle.

Oregon Trail Museum and Visitor Center

The museum complex covers approximately 6,677 square feet. While the original construction was in 1935, there have been several expansions including:

Paleontology wing: home to fossils from the Brule Formation. This formation dates back 33 to 22 million years ago. It includes oredonts, stylemys (a dry land tortoise), and other vertebrate fossils like early rhinoceroses and deer-like animals.
William Henry Jackson Wing: rotating pieces of William Henry Jackson’s watercolors, sketches and photos. Jackson was an artist and adventurer, who had a role in the 1871 U.S. Geological Survey. He aided in establishing Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1972.

Costumed interpreter with a covered wagon at a living history program. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

The museum also offers seasonal living history programs. Costumed interpreters are dressed as 1850s pioneers following the Oregon Trail with their covered wagon. They demonstrate pioneer life activities such as cook over open fires and repairing wagon wheels.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

First, let me say my week in this part of Nebraska was one of my best trips ever! There’s just so much history representing many eras, from fossils up to 18,000 years old to the Pony Express.

Check out the preserved wagon tracks at Windlass Hill. They were left by the half million or so people who traveled the Oregon Trail between 1843 and 1869, one step at a time beside their oxen. How far? Roughly 2000 miles!

When it comes to museums, be sure to visit the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering and Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron. Andif you’d like something a little different, I really enjoyed the Petrified Wood Gallery in Ogallala.

While the week was full of great meals, some really stood out.

The Tangled Tumbleweed Tapas inspired eater in Scottsbluff
Emporium Coffeehouse in Scottsbluff

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And if you’d like a unique place to stay for the night, the off-the-beaten-path High Plains Homestead is awesome. There are rustic rooms and glamping options in the great outdoors, so you’ll be able to see the night sky clearly.

Who Should Visit Scotts Bluff National Monument?

If you’re on a road trip through western Nebraska, Scotts Bluff National Monument is a must-do stop. The area is rich in history, whether you’re looking for geologic history or stories of emigrants on the Oregon Trail.

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The hiking trail up the monument provides a great opportunity to stretch and enjoy the view. And, if you’re not able to walk that far, you can use the shuttle to get to the top.

Park rangers provide various summer programs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I especially enjoyed the emigrant experience with costumed rangers and learning about cooking on the trail.

The amount of time required will depend on how much focus your stop has on nature and hiking. While the Oregon Trail Museum and Visitor Center is small, there’s a lot of information included.

And of course, the William Jackson Henry Art Gallery can also take quite a bit of time. I was here for half a day and enjoyed every minute.

Scotts Bluff National Monument has various accessibility features. Parking, restrooms, ranger programs and some trails are accessible. The Saddle Rock Trail is partially accessible with the first 700 yards being wheelchair and stroller-friendly.

How Do You Visit Scotts Bluff National Monument

Scotts Bluff National Monument is in rural Western Nebraska. It’s located three miles west of the town of Gering.

Parking: The site has lots of free parking.

Street Address: 190276 Old Oregon Trail, Gering, Nebraska. The National Park Service provides full directions on various forms of transportation.

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Visit the Scotts Bluff National Monument website from the National Park Service for more information.

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening with the Scotts Bluff National Monument Facebook page.

Take a virtual tour of The Oregon Trail Through the Historic Scotts Bluff in Nebraska on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

Reference(s)

Oregon Trail Museum Association. (1962). History of Scotts Bluff National Monument. https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/scbl/history/foreword.htm

Acknowledgments

These stops were all part of a Fam tour hosted by the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau, Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau, and Nebraska Tourism Commission.

More Places to See in Nebraska

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guide2museums.com May 5, 2025

Standout Ranching History at the MonDak Heritage Center: Sidney, Montana

The MonDak Heritage Center is the “Sunrise City’s” premier history and art museum. It’s located in Sidney, Montana, near the Yellowstone River and North Dakota border.

As with much of Big Sky country, ranching plays a big part in Sidney’s history and culture.

Saddles in the MonDak Heritage Center. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

The Old West has always fascinated me — especially through this part of Montana. I’ve driven the length of the Yellowstone River through the state researching one of my novels, Badlands and Outlaws: Adventure on the Frontier. In the novel, the main character is riding drag behind a herd of cattle, while his eyes are on the hills looking for outlaws.

But back to the museum and its old west artifacts.

While the museum has late 1800s saddles, blacksmith shop, rifles, barbed wire and more, it was the collection of brands that most interested me.

Wall covered with wooden placards providing area brands along with the name and location of the brand owner. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

While I didn’t count them all, there are more than 150 brands displayed in the museum. In addition to the information on the brand placards, there’s also a detailed list of the brands.

Fast Fact: Brands were first recorded in 1873 in Montana, with new brand registrations submitted until 1910. The state's historical records include over 100,000 pages of livestock brand registrations compiled by the Brands Enforcement Division of the Montana Department of Livestock.

Brands, of course, are marks used to identify livestock. You may be surprised to know that ranchers weren’t the first to use them. Indeed, ancient Egyptians branded their livestock.

Typically, brands are family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation.

What’s in the MonDak Heritage Center

The MonDak Heritage Center was established in 1984. The building has about 16,200 sq. ft used to display its regional collection and hold its programs.

Settlers began arriving in the area in the 1870s, however, Sidney wasn’t named until 1888. It didn’t incorporate until 1911.

Where did the town of Sidney, Montana, get its name?

The story goes that settlers couldn’t get a post office to receive mail until the growing townsite had a name. Eureka had been their first choice. However, there was already a Eureka, Montana, in the northwestern part of the state close to the Canadian border. So, the townsite needed something different.

Hiram Otis, who was the local Justice of the Peace, was charged with filling out the new application. Now Hiram had a hobby that he loved and that was fishing. He also had a fishing partner he was fond of — a six-year-old boy named Sidney. Sidney and his parents were living with Hiram at the time.

An inspiration hit Hiram while he was filling out the post office application papers. He would call the townsite Sidney.

Starting your tour, you’ll see a great collection of exhibits from the homesteading era.

Inside a homesteader’s home. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

From washboards to separators (used to separate cream from milk), there’s lots of information on this era.

Different types of barbed wire displayed in the MonDak Heritage Center. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

And once there were homesteaders there were fences, so the old west was fenced away!

Fast Fact: According to museum information, 500 different patents for barbed wire have been registered! That's important because barbed wire for livestock fences reshaped the old west. The first patent was granted to Michael Kelly in 1868. However, Joseph Glidden's 1874 patent improved it by using a simple wire barb locked into a double-strand wire that's still used today.

Many find the historical “Main Street” exhibit the museum’s standout feature. It recreates the look and feel of a 1930s town, complete with local stores and businesses. You’ll find everything from soda fountains to gas stations to dentistry.

Natural gas was piped into the Lower Yellowstone Valley in the 1930s. Electricity was provided to area homes by then as well.

Main Street at the MonDak Heritage Center in Sidney, Montana. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

And if you’re an art lover, you’ll enjoy the extensive collection of artworks. The collection includes numerous pieces from renowned Western artist, J.K. Ralston. Ralston was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2012.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

This trip began, as our roadtrips often do, in Williston, North Dakota. It’s just 45 miles (72 km) from Williston to Sidney.

While we’ve stayed in a number of hotels in Williston, we highly recommend the Bakken Airport XWA Hotel & Studios.

It’s great value for the dollar, being budget priced and just over a decade old. The only drawback is that it’s eight miles out of the city.

Our favorite place to eat in Williston is at Famous Dave’s
Bar-B-Que. Or, if you’re looking for more of a night out, we like Doc Holliday’s Roadhouse Bar and Grill. The atmosphere is great!

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Who Should Visit the MonDak Heritage Center?

The MonDak Heritage Center has an exhibit for everyone! History buffs, of course, will find lots to see.

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From cowboy days to their 1930s main street, there are a number of unique exhibits.

Art enthusiasts will find exhibitions from local and regional artists in addition to permanent collection works by renowned artist, J.K. Ralston. Exhibitions rotate, so there’s always new artwork to see.

The center also offers lots for locals including art classes and camps for all ages. Their Youth Art Show and MonDak Christmas are popular annual events.

Cultural events, including live music performances and theater productions also bring visitors to the museum.

Part of the collection is dedicated to research library and archives. So, anyone interested in local historical and genealogical research will find the museum a great resource.

How Do You Visit the MonDak Heritage Center?

The MonDak Heritage Center in Sidney, Montana is considered the best museum in the area for its focus on the region’s history, art, and culture.

Parking: There's lots of free street parking.

Location: 120 3rd Avenue Southeast, Sidney, Montana.

Admission to the MonDak Heritage Center is free. You can check days and hours open on the MonDak Heritage Center website.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

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guide2museums.com Mar 21, 2025

Finney County Historical Museum: 150 Years of Garden City, Kansas, History

Garden City, Kansas, is a small city on the popular north-south U.S. Route 83 highway. However, visitors enjoy a wide range of activities from hunting and fishing to the diverse mix of Mexican, Southeast Asian, and other international cuisines. When it comes to attractions, the Finney County Historical Museum tops the list.

“Old Two Bits” – the city’s 50 ton steam locomotive. It ran from 1916 to 1952 hauling sugar beets to the sugar factory owned by Garden City Sugar and Land. Photo with Linda Aksomitis taken by David Aksomitis.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

My favorite exhibit in the Finney County Historical Museum was about the Santa Fe Trail. I always find it fascinating to hear the stories of the courageous men and women who trekked across the country. And the Santa Fe Trail was a major route from 1821 to 1880.

Personal possessions of pioneers arriving on the Santa Fe trail. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Today, you can still follow the general route of the old Santa Fe Trail by using U.S. Route 50. Designated as a National Historic Trail in 1987, the highway runs east to west from Missouri to New Mexico. The trail has set up 30 Passport Stamp locations that are historically relevant for you to stop in.

Fast Fact: With harsh weather, limited water, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho defining their lands, the trail was tough. Indeed, the Santa Fe Trail has been called the most forbidding and dangerous major pioneer route in American history.

After looking through the photos, you can almost see the caravans of ox-drawn wagons plodding over the prairie. Garden City was a key stop, since the Arkansas River runs through it.

Garden City was part of the Cimarron Route, which was the shorter–but riskier–branch of the Santa Fe Trail. It shortened the trip by about 10 days, which could make a big difference if winter came early!

Oxen yoke. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

The museum’s display includes artifacts along with historical photos. There’s a great map to show where the trail ran.

What’s in the Finney County Museum?

The Finney County Museum collection archives over 140 years of local history. It covers the major decades, starting with the first peoples, pioneer life and early agriculture.

Display of early pioneer farming tools. Photo by David Aksomitis.

Back in the 1960s, the Finney County Historical Society established the museum. Originally, the artifacts were displayed around town in various businesses. But in 1975, the artifacts were relocated to the brick current location in Finnup Park.

One of the city’s founding members, George Finnup, donated the land and resources for it and the Lee Richardson Zoo.

The museum is a 10,000 square-foot facility, with lots of exhibit space for its multiple galleries. It also includes the Leola Howard Blanchard Library, which is an expanding research center. You’ll find lots of primary sources on the history of Finney County and local genealogy.

Main Galleries in the Finney County Museum

The museum is organized chronologically, so you move through time getting an idea for how the county grew.

19th century kitchen display. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

Some of the long-term exhibits in the Main Exhibit Hall include:

Take Stock in Finney County. This exhibit focuses on the cattle industry. As well as ranching, the exhibit covers the development of its beef packing industry.
C.J. “Buffalo” Jones: Last of the Plainsmen. He’s definitely someone you might describe as a character! You’ll see that in this display that shows his life and community contributions.
19th-Century Kitchen. If you’ve ever had questions about cooking in the late 1800s, here are some answers. These artifacts make it clear that women’s work was no walk in the park in those days.
Finney County Agriculture. While Finney County has a semi-arid climate, irrigation from the Arkansas River helped farmers expand their options. In the late 1800s, sugar beets became a profitable crop. A sugar processing plan was built in Garden City.

Wheeler Grain Wagon made by International Harvester. Originally purchased in 1925. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

You’ll also find the Spirit of the Plains Gallery provides insights into the history of the Southwest Kansas plains. Weather even gets some headlines with the Big Blizzard of 1957.

Fast Fact: The weather forecast for March 24, 1957, was up to two inches of snow for Garden City. What fell was five-inches of sloppy snowball-snow in a furious storm that paralyzed the area. Nothing moved for three days. Power went out. Homes and businesses were cut off.

When it comes to popularity, the Clutter Family Murders exhibit typically tops most visitor lists. In 1959, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith set out rob Herb Clutter in nearby Holcomb, who they believed to be rich. In the end, the two murdered four people to get roughly $50, a pair of binoculars, and a transistor radio.

Truman Capote made the tragedy widely known in his book, In Cold Blood. Indeed, the book has been called the most famous true crime novel of all time!

Gallery featuring wanted posters and stories. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.

There’s also a Front Door Gallery with smaller cases and exhibits that change a number of times through the year.

Fast Fact: Settlers reaching Garden City came by covered wagon or prairie schooner. Each wagon held about 2,000 pounds of provisions and household supplies. That meant the majority of settlers walked all the way beside their wagons--some as far as 2000 miles.

The Temporary Gallery is dedicated to rotating exhibits that change every few years. And, if you have children with you, the Dress-Up Room is an interactive space for trying on period clothing and taking selfies.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

We packed a lot of miles and museums into our itinerary the day we visited the Finney County Museum. We started with the Fick Fossil & History Museum in Oakley — do check out the artwork made with fossils!

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The museum is right next to the Lee Richardson Zoo, which gave us an excellent reason to do some walking.

That’s something we often miss when traveling.

Since the zoo is the largest one in western Kansas, it’s very popular.

However, if you’re not into walking you can also take your own vehicle on a driving tour.

And we ended our day in Dodge City at the Boot Hill Museum. It’s another excellent choice, especially if you find the old west fascinating!

On the recommendation of a local in the Long Branch Saloon in the museum, we ate and stayed overnight at the Dodge House. It was a great choice.

Who Should Visit the Finney County Museum?

The Finney County Museum is a great stop for all ages. On our visit, there were a hundred or so students just ending a visit to the museum and zoo.

When it comes to agricultural history, we found some unique pieces of equipment that would be new to many museum-goers outside Kansas.

Something we hadn’t seen before was information about the sugar beet industry, so that was a nice addition.

One of the strengths we noted was that the museum was well-curated. There’s lots of information about each artifact, so you won’t be left wondering what something is.

As well, the lay-out wasn’t crowded so you can see everything on display. That also makes it ideal for strollers and wheelchairs to get around.

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How Do You Visit Finney County Museum?

Garden City is located on north-south U.S. Highway 83, which runs from Canada to Mexico. Connecting to U.S. Highways 50 and 400, there are great regional connections for visitors.

Parking: There's lots of free parking directly in front of the museum.

Street Address: 403 S. fourth Street, Garden City, Kansas

The museum and zoo are both free, but do check days and hours open (and for any changes in admission) on the Finney County website.

Keep up to date with what’s happening with the Finney County Historical Museum Facebook page.

Explore the True Crime Exhibit at the Finney County Historical Museum with Good Day Kansas on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

Find More Museums to Visit in Kansas

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