| The original building on Front Street
in Dodge City deteriorated so much that in 1969 the block was
demolished and replaced by parking lots that are in front of these
buildings. |
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| Gunsmoke, which was set in Dodge City,
ran on radio and television from 1952 to 1975, which is absolutely
amazing. |
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| On the section of Gunsmoke Street
commonly called the "Million-Dollar Block" was the Lora Locke Hotel,
built in 1927. It was probably pretty fancy-schmancy back then. It
now holds Ford County government offices. |
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| Artist Stan Herd created this mural on
the side of what was the First National Bank Building, a five-story
skyscraper. |
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| The Dodge City Carnegie Library was
built in 1907 with $7500 donated by Andrew Carnegie. It's now an
arts center. |
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| One of Florida State University's most
famous alums, Burt Reynolds. He was on Gunsmoke from 1962 to 1965. |
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| When Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Doc
Holliday wanted something to eat, they went to Pizza Hut. |
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| A statue of fictional Marshall Matt
Dillon outside the Visitor Information Center. |
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| Lots of western towns have a Boot Hill
cemetery. Dodge City has a Boot Hill Museum. |
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| I do like old Victorian era women's
fashion. |
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| WHEEL...OF...FORTUNE! |
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| They recreated the original Front
Street on the museum property. |
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| Old West jails were so small. |
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| But I guess iron bars are iron bars
regardless of the size of the jail. |
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| I see dead people. Well, I see where
dead people are buried. |
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| In the buildings of the recreated Front
Street were museum exhibits. This was one of Collar's Dry Goods
Store. |
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| A small barroom. |
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| Soon after his arrival in the newly
formed Dodge City, Charles Beeson formed what became known as the
Dodge City Brass Band. They were asked to appear at the inauguration
of President Benjamin Harrison. |
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| In the bank exhibit was an old safe. |
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| Okay, I'm sure you are wondering why
there is a little Hitler doll here. Well Irene Beeson (likely
related to that band guy Charles Beeson) had a doll collection. This
one was part of the Beeson Museum collection. It was purchased
before WWII. |
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| The Union Church, established in 1876. |
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| The Hardesty House was built in 1879.
Not on this location. It was subsequently moved here. It was slated
for demolition fifty odd years ago but was purchased and donated to
the museum. |
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| A nice room for breakfast. |
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| Not sure what this room was, but there
is an organ. |
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| The sign pretty much says all there is
to know. |
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| The Santa Fe Depot, built in 1897, once
also housed a Harvey House Restaurant and Hotel (remember the one in
Hugo?). This one was the largest in Kansas. The station is currently
an Amtrak station. |
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| A statue of lawman Wyatt Earp across
the street from the station. |
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| On the other end of town was the Best
Western. |
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| The room was large. |
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| And had a kitchenette. |
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| Dinner was at the Central Station
restaurant near the Santa Fe Depot. I had a nice barbecue beef
sandwich and watched the first half of the NCAA women's soccer
championship game. FSU gave up an equalizer late and eventually lost
on penalties. Dammit! |
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