Dodge City

Boot Hill Museum - For this attraction, you'll need to "get the heck into Dodge" because this museum all about the wild, Wild West. The replication of Dodge City's old front street goes all-in with a saloon, an old jail, a church, a blacksmithing shop, and a one-room schoolhouse. While the variety show only occurs during the summer (guess you'll just have to come back), this museum remains a "must-see" during the cold season.

​Greensburg

Big Well Museum & Visitor Information Center - Another stop you should consider making is to the Big Well Museum, which is located at the Greensburg Visitor Center. If you grew up with well water, or, currently use well water, you'll be in for a treat! This massive hole in the ground once served as the town's water supply with dimensions of 109 feet in depth and 32 feet in diameter. 

Scott City

El Quartelejo Museum - This museum spans a vast timeline of Kansas history, dating back to the Cambrian and Pleistocene fossil ages! Visitors can learn what life was like for the Native Americans and Spanish explorers as they trekked across the plains. This museum is ideal for those who appreciate the period of Kansas's history prior to the official declaration of statehood in 1861.

Jerry Thomas Gallery & Collection - Right next door to the El Quartelejo Museum is the Jerry Thomas Gallery & Collection. This is yet another "must-see" while exploring Southwest Kansas and Scott City. This amazing assembly of various artwork showcases much of the native history and culture. 

Liberal

Mid-America Air Museum - Visiting the Mid-America Air Museum is definitely one of the main reasons why people take the trip out to Liberal. Located in the far Southwest corner of the state, Liberal can be quite the commute, that is, assuming you don't live nearby! For those who can make the trip in a day, you must! You can find all sorts of things to do on the various highways that lead to Liberal on your way to the museum. But please remember to check the road conditions before you make the trip!
 

Highways to Liberal

• Highway 83
• Highway 54
• Highway 56

Hays

Sternberg Museum of Natural History - This museum is simply remarkable. It collects specimens from a plethora of disciplines, including paleontology, paleobotany, geology, botany, and entomology (click here for a full list). Needless to say, you'll find a lot see (and learn about) while you're here. The museum currently has 5 main permanent exhibits with rotating exhibits you can check here. 

Colby

Prairie Museum of Arts & History—This museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. If the weather keeps you to just the indoor portion, no worries—it's still worth seeing! 

The indoor portion contains the World-Class Kuska Collection, including over 28,000 toys, glass, ceramics, silver, souvenirs, musical instruments, coins, clocks, stamps, dolls, furniture, clothing, quilts, and art. Venture to the outside to learn about early prairie life in a sod house, a one-room school, a country church, a 1930s farmstead, and the largest barn in Kansas (Cooper Barn).

Nicodemus

Nicodemus National Historic Site - Visiting Nicodemus has to be on your bucket list. The town remains the oldest preserved black settlement west of the Mississippi River following the Civil War. Originally settled in 1877, many of those who first arrived found themselves owning land for the first time. The museum itself comprises 5 historic structures of the time: A.M.E Church, First Baptist Church, Nicodemus School District #1, the St. Francis Hotel, and the Township Hall. It's easily one of the best places to learn about African American History in Kansas.

Goodland

High Plains Museum - This museum is a fantastic place to learn about the history of Northwest Kansas. The museum contains both permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as hosting various events throughout the year. Admission to this museum is free, and with Goodland being conveniently located right off Interstate 70, you can easily find the time to tour this museum while on your next cross-country road trip!

Wichita

Exploration Place - Kids absolutely love this museum! This interactive science museum has so much for young museum-goers to get their hands on. The museum's permanent and temporary exhibits manage to mix learning and having fun with exemplary effort! Go on and check out their newest exhibit called TeamLab, which inspires kids to collaberate and work together as they try to solve various puzzles. 

Great Bend 

Shafer Art Gallery -  This art gallery is located on the Barton Community College Campus, just a few miles northwest of Great Bend. This has been touted as the "gem of the campus." During my high school days as a 'Band Geek', I had the privilege of performing at their campus for music competitions, and I was very impressed with the arts and music department at the school. The art gallery is free for all visitors and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm., but it remains closed during academic holidays. You can reach them at 620-792-9342 and check out their exhibits and events by clicking here.

Lindsborg

Okay, so it's hard to narrow it down to just one. Lindsborg has so much to see and do for a town its size, so it would be a diservice to say you could only visit one museum here. Personally, I can't recommend the Clara Hatton Center enough, especially if you are into printmaking.

• Red Barn Studio Museum
• Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery
• Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum
• Clara Hatton Center

Hutchinson

Cosmosphere - I was lucky enough to tour this place as part of a field trip when I was in 4th grade. While I cannot speak for all of my classmates, my recollection was that we had a fantastic time touring the museum. This was in 2007-08, and the museum has only gotten better since then. Gallery additions haven't stopped! Visitors can anticipate to see the next round of updates to be completed by 2025. Check out the Cosmosphere website for the most up-to-date information on upcoming exhibits and galleries!

Salina

The Garage - Salina is a great place for car enthusiasts. After all, it's home to the largest annual custom car show in the world: The Kustim Kemps of America (KKOA) Car Show. While that event occurs during the summer at oakdale park, you can visit The Garage year-round, with Thursday being open til 8 p.m. Did I mention that they have A LOT of interactive exhibits and driving simulators for kids to try? That's right, you can let kids drive (virtually) here.

Manhattan

Concordia

National Orphan Train Complex - I visited this museum for the first time last winter, and while you may have to walk outside for a few of the exhibits, the distances are negligible and shouldn't stop you from making the strip. You'll learn how the rapid pace of urbanization from the late 19th century and early 20th century on the East Coast left many people, even children, without a place to call home. The museum does an excellent job of keeping the stories of these train riders alive.

Abilene

Eisenhower Presidential Library, - Easily one of my favorite museums in Kansas. Dwight D. Eisenhower was more than just a courageous leader. This guy had the guts to launch the D-Day invasion in WWII, practically putting the fate of America and its allies on the brink. The museum's campus not only has his boyhood home but also comes fully loaded with memorabilia from WWII and the later 1940s, and the later decades of the 50s and 60s. Rather than discuss his many accomplishments in detail, I would prefer that you learn more about "Ike" for yourself!

Chanute

Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum - Some of the most fascinating explorers in Kansas history were Martin and Osa Johnson. The Johnsons' helped pioneer the philosohpy of “take only photos, leave only footprints.” This is easily one of the most sought-after museums in Southeast Kansas. You won't find a better place in Kansas that recaps the adventures of a husband and wife like this!

Parsons

Curious Minds Discovery Zone - While I don't have kids, I think it's fair to say they tend to be a curious demographic. With that said, take your young ones to Parsons to visit the Curious Minds Discovery Zone for interactive, hands-on learning.  Kids can engage in various scientific subjects by using microscopes and magnifying glasses and observing rocks, fossils, and shells. With activities geared towards specific age groups, your kids can maximize the learning experience.

Emporia

Red Rocks State Historic Site

Have you ever heard of award-winning author William Allen White? Well, if you haven't, you better Google his name because he is very well considered one of the most accomplished writers, journalists, and radio broadcaster in the history of Kansas. The "Red Rocks" house is actually the house where the White family lived in Emporia for over 40 years! Oh, and did we mention this place is supposedly haunted?

Fort Scott

Fort Scott National Historic Site 

The architecture at this Fort is simply stunning. The fort resembles a part of Kansas's history when the state existed as a territory. If you ever find yourself lucky enough to visit on the first weekend of December, then you absolutely have to go to the Fort's annual "Candlelight Tour." Believe me when I say "absolutely must" because the tickets for this event sell out fast! Keep your calendars marked for that first weekend of December, folks!

Lawrence

Free Museums at the University of Kansas.

Head on over to the KU campus this winter! And no, not just for a basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse. As fun as it is to watch the Jayhawks live on Naismith Court, there's so much more for you to do while visiting KU.

KU Natural History Museum

Home to four floors of exhibits of both live insects and fossilized bones, this museum is perfect for school-aged kids who love natural history and science! What's even better is the museum now has a 'Natural History Mystery Game' where visitors get to solve various puzzles. The game is FREE to play too! Just remember you'll need to book a time slot of about 1 hour. 

Spencer Museum of Art

More of an artsy type? Well, KU has something for you too! The Spencer Art Museum has over 48,000 art objects, which is about the population of my hometown of Salina. This isn't "just another college art gallery," either. This is an extremely diverse collection of creative work from all over the globe--so come check it out!

Topeka

Combat Air Museum

History Buffs, Pilots, Veterans, and lovers of Top Gun—this place is for you! With over 40 military aircraft on display from WWI to the modern era, you simply have to check this place out if you have any interest in military history. Did we mention this place doubles up as an art museum? Yep, that's right. You can also lay eyes on the James W. Mirick Gallery of Aviation Art, which contains over 50 paintings!

Atchison

Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum

One of the newest museum in Kansas is the beloved Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum. Located in her hometown of Atchison, the museum actually is part of the local airport. The best part is that kids really like this place! This highly interactive museum is beautifully designed and even has a station for flight simulators -- the perfect (and safest) way to test your skills as an aviator!