The museum was a WPA project built in 1936 of native rock and constructed to look like an early trading post. Its been added onto over the years but the first building is still used as the entry area and has displays of Native American artifacts and early pioneer history. Other areas of the museum hold donated collections of all types of items neatly organized but with little historical information. From what I could glean this area was first settled by families from the deep south looking for a better life after the Civil War and Germans from Russia escaping from a famine and conscription into the army.
Exhibits of recent history are more interesting. One explains the excitement felt when electricity came to the rural communities in the 1930s.
A courtyard outside includes a group of relocated and new constructed buildings holding more donated items. All of the machines from the Lawrie Tannery are set up with detailed descriptions of the the tanning process. The Daily Cash Store, owned and operated by Mable Markham for 47 years until her death in1962, was moved to the site in 1992. It had been closed for 30 years with all of the merchandise and furnishings left in place, capturing a moment in time.
We were very impressed with the level of accessibility especially since the museum building rambles a bit. There are ramps, lifts, and doors that must be opened by the staff but almost everything is accessible. One exhibit in the main museum building has a step without a ramp. The courtyard has smooth, paved walkways and the buildings all have ramps. The caboose, depot, farm machinery exhibit, teepee, and gold panning creek are not accessible.
The parking lot is too small for RVs but parking is available on the street or in the lot across the street. Museum 40.61797, -103.18085
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