Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on Amazon.com.
Despite what some people think, Kansas is not flat terrain. Its topography ranges from vast open prairie to the Flint Hills and protruding terrain such as the Gypsum Hills. Add the unpredictability of its ever-changing weather, making it a challenging location for early settlers.
Native Americans created trading posts. Settlers arrived from distant countries and other parts of the country, hoping to access farmland. Cowboys drove cattle from Texas along the Chisholm Trail.
Fortunately, these museums document the story of those who chose Kansas as their home. Museum-goers can time-travel back in history, imagining what life must have been like for its early residents, visiting one museum at a time.
Consider this a list to enjoy the great American road trip getting to know Kansas history and its people.
Kansas Museums to Imagine Life on the Prairie
OAKLEY
Buffalo Bill Cultural Center
The story of the American West includes William F. Cody, Buffalo Bill, who worked as a contract buffalo hunter. The Buffalo Bill Cultural Center’s interpretive displays and the outdoor sculpture of Buffalo Bill tell the story of northwestern Kansas town’s early days.
A worthwhile point of interest in Oakley, a 16-foot bronze sculpture of Buffalo Bill draws tourists eager to take photos. The 8 Wonder of Kansas Art landmark is twice the life size of Buffalo Bill and his horse.
GOODLAND
High Plains Museum
Documented stories dating back over 100 years come to life at the High Plains Museum, where curators display over 8,000 Western Kansas artifacts, including a replica of the first patented helicopter in America inspired by the Wright brothers. A glass case housing a gun, money box, and masks used by train robbers illustrates the train robbery story.
A gallery of images depicts farming and railroad history in Sherman County. High-quality traveling exhibits and regularly scheduled trivia nights add to the museum’s appeal in Goodland.
COLBY
Prairie Museum of Art and History
Walk in the shoes of the state’s early residents inside original buildings on a 24-acre site at Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby. A one-room schoolhouse and a 1915 church serve as time capsules, while tractors on display are a visual reminder of the labor-intensive daily work of farmers who tended fields and raised livestock.
The Cooper Barn, the largest one in Kansas, is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture and a must-see attraction. Inside, Agriculture on the High Plains: High Dry’s artifacts tell a farming story during water scarcity, underscoring the challenges of prairie living.
OBERLIN
Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum
In 1878, a battle between the Cheyenne Indian tribe and US Army men took place in Decatur County, resulting in deaths. The Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum’s displays preserve this history, as do buffalo hunters and homesteaders.
Fifteen structures, including 13 authentic buildings, tell a visual story of Decatur County from 1885 to 1952. Use a self-guided tour map and scan QR codes with your phone’s camera to access historical information at each display.
DODGE CITY
Boot Hill Museum
Located in Dodge City, the Queen of the Cowtowns, Boot Hill Museum preserves life on the prairie history by documenting the Old West. A self-guided tour of original and replica buildings immerses visitors in 1800s life. The museum includes over 60,000 artifacts and photographs about the Plains Indians, the cattle industry, Victorian life, and the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame exhibit.
While watching saloon girls perform at the Long Brand Variety Show in the saloon while sipping sarsaparilla, one is immersed in saloon life. It’s here that bootleggers profited, and cowboys gambled until dawn. And when things got too rowdy, gunfights broke out beyond the saloon doors in the street where cowboys often died with their boots on, hence the name Boot Hill.
LARNED
Santa Fe Trail Center
Part museum, part library, the Santa Fe Trail Center brings the past to life, showcasing how the High Plains changed after the railroad developed. The not-to-be-missed destination includes indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Gallery exhibits detail how a trapper’s life and a 1919 replica home depicts family. History lovers can view the Frizell Depot or send a telegraph message outside. Don’t miss the schoolhouse and chapel, each over 100 years old.
NICODEMUS
Nicodemus Historical Museum
Established in 1877, Nicodemus, Kansas, was founded by once enslaved African Americans who migrated to Kansas in search of land. The Nicodemus Historical Museum, a national park site, tells the story of their faith and tenacity in using the prairie to make a living.
Take a tour of five buildings located at the oldest and only remaining Black settlements west of the Mississippi River. In October, Pioneer Day features speakers highlighting the town’s founding residents.
HAYS
Fort Hays State Historic Site
At Fort Hays State Historic Site during my “Voices of Kansas” tour of Hays, I learned about the frontier post’s role in protecting workers building the Union Pacific Eastern Division railway. An exhibit about Chief Black Kettle highlights how the prominent Southern Cheyenne leader worked to promote peace and to negotiate treaties with the U.S. military.
Established in 1865, and its visitor center, blockhouse, guardhouse, and officers’ quarters are available to tour. A couple of original officers’ quarters remain or the previous 11 row houses that existed. It is open to tour at no cost, every day except Monday and Tuesday. They host a popular Christmas event during the first weekend in December, drawing over 1,500 visitors annually.
MANHATTAN
Flint Hills Discovery Center
Manhattan, situated on the Konza Prairie, is the home of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. An ideal place to learn about the region’s topography, seven indoor interactive exhibits explore Kansas weather and its effect on the ecosystem.
The museum’s Horizon Ranch Flint Hills Immersive Experience Theatre shows a 15-minute film immersing viewers in blowing wind, falling snow, and a light show mimicking a real prairie fire. Other exhibits drive home what it’s like to work as a cattle rancher, from raising livestock to selling it – don’t leave without practicing your auctioning skills.
LA CROSSE
Kansas Barbed Wire Museum
Traditional Twist. One Round-One Square. Razor Ribbon. The names given to various barbed wire designs are as fascinating as its uses.
The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum educates about the history of barbed wire fencing. Used by landowners to keep free-roaming cattle from damaging crops, the twisted metal was also used by railroad companies to keep cattle from straying on the tracks.
LYONS
Coronado Quivira Museum
The year was 1541, and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was on a mission to find gold. The Spanish explorer and his men traveled through Kansas on this quest. Although unsuccessful, Coronado left an impression (and a few artifacts behind!).
The Coronado Quivira Museum also documents Quivira, an ancestral province of the Wichita tribe located near Lyons, that Coronado discovered during his visit.
TOPEKA
Kansas Museum of History
The Kansas Museum of History offers visitors perhaps the most robust story of the early days of Kansas, chronicling the life of Native Americans, the impact of the Civil War, and the effects of the Bleeding Kansas sage.
Glass cases house Native American artifacts serving as symbols of tribal life. Peering into a covered wagon helps visitors envision traveling as a family on the desolate plains westward with hope in their hearts. Everything changed with the development of Kansas railroads, and a tour inside a locomotive reminds visitors of its expansion from east to west in the 1860s. The Topeka museum will reopen after renovations on Kansas Day 2025.
ABILENE
Old Abilene Town
Abilene, a stop on the Chisholm Trail, is an original Wild West location. Old Abilene Town is a living history museum depicting what people experienced during the town’s cattle-driving days.
Visitors can watch can-can dancers hoot and holler or gunfighters duke it out in the street in the summer. What must it have been like for drovers to move Texas livestock through town? A live longhorn cattle walk through downtown Abilene during Chisholm Trail Days during Labor Day Weekend to recreate history. A visit to Old Abilene Town on any given day of the year is worthwhile, serving as a backdrop for photos.
SHAWNEE
Shawnee Town Museum
Another living history museum, Shawnee Town Museum, familiarizes visitors with a typical day in the 1929 farm community. Many buildings are replicas; however, a walk through an original 1878 farmhouse resembles how a family would have lived. Greet chicken outside in the coop or smell the aroma of the smokehouse before touring the Market Shed, where homemakers sold goods.
Old Shawnee Days, an annual fair in early June, draws a large crowd for its nostalgic parade, vendors, and amusement park rides.
BONNER SPRINGS
National Agriculture Center and Hall of Fame
Curious about how farmers work the land? The National Agriculture Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs displays 20,000 square feet of antique farm machinery, while the Art Gallery showcases depictions of farm life. Tour the Agricultural Hall of Fame and Farm Town USA to understand how farm families persevered fully.
Don’t miss the Barnyard Babies Family Festival in late April, which allows kids to see animals and farm equipment and ride a train or pony. Interested in machinery? At the Tractor Cruise in May, dozens of tractors drive a 40-mile loop through the county.
REPUBLIC COUNTY
Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site
One of the 8 Wonders of Kansas finalists, the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the tribe’s settlements and early 1800s lifestyle. The Republic County museum is constructed around a preserved original dome-shaped earth lodge. Walking its interior, one can see areas dug to store dry goods, a fire pit, and charred wood pieces.
The museum experience is self-guided unless visitors attend special events, which include Mountain Man Rendezvous and Kansas Day activities. During the fall season, after-dark tours occur.
MARYSVILLE
Pony Express Barn & Museum
What was it like to live during a time when a horseman delivered letters to alert town officials of essential events in the 1860s? Part museum, part stable, a visitor’s tour starts by viewing a 15-minute film about the Old West tradition before perusing exhibits ranging from illuminated dioramas to livery stable artifacts. Children will appreciate hands-on activities, from touching animal pelts to donning cowboy garb for a photograph.
The Pony Express Barn & Museum in Marysville is the only remaining original station on the route located between Missouri and California.
OLATHE
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site
The true grit of the 1860s frontier comes alive at the only working stagecoach stop left on the Santa Fe Trail. A portal back in time, the Living History Museum and Agricultural Heritage Livestock Barn set the scene at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site.
Stand in awe as horses plow a field or watch as a cookstove meal. The clip-clop sound of horses’ hoofs signals stagecoach rides are underway – a must-have experience in Olathe.
WELLINGTON
Chisholm Trail Museum
At the Chisholm Trail Museum in Wellington, over 20,000 artifacts displayed in thematic rooms document the story of cattlemen and some of the area’s first pioneer families. The town was a central stop on the Chisholm Trail between Texas and Abilene, Kansas, in 1867.
Admire the embroidered leather work of an authentic saddle, view original photography, or read the names of barbed wire before touring a room dedicated to 1875 pioneer living. Outside, a replica of Texas Longhorn is a photo-worthy sight.
WICHITA
Great Plains Nature Center
At the Great Plains Nature Center, visitors of all ages learn about the animals and fauna that call Kansas home. Animal exhibits and interactive displays document the evolution of prairies, wetlands, and woodland. Events, often including children’s activities, regularly occur at the center in Wichita.
Ready for a stroll outdoors? Surrounded by Chisholm Creek Park, visitors can listen to chirping birds while touring preserved native grassland where free-roaming deer and turkey make their home.
Mid-America All-Indian Center
Several Indigenous tribes resided near the Arkansas River in Wichita before it became an incorporated city. The Mid-America All-Indian Center, which preserves American Indian heritage while honoring its present, is often the site of rotating art exhibits, dinners, and powwow events.
Its permanent display of Blackbear Bosin’s artwork is an homage to his iconic Keeper of the Plains sculpture on the plaza. Fiery cauldrons ignite at its base at 9:00 pm (spring and summer) and 7:00 pm (fall and winter).
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
Entering the doors at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, one is stepping inside Wichita’s first city hall, built in 1890. Four floors of exhibits help visitors imagine what it was like when Indians settled in Wichita and how businessmen made it into a boom town.
Touch a bison hide while learning about hunters and traders who visited the one-time cattle town. Inside “A Wichita Cottage,” a replica middle-class room depicts the wealthy’s way of life. Around the corner, the Mayor’s Office is set up to resemble where businessman turned mayor John B. Carey made important decisions.
Old Cowtown Museum
Watch 1800s-era life in real-time at Old Cowtown Museum, a living history museum where interpreters dress in period costumes to portray Kansas life. During the regular season (April-October), cowboys kick up dust on Main Street, saloon girls dance on stage, and shopkeepers demonstrate their craft.
Visitors can take self-guided tours of 54 buildings, many of which are original structures. The Munger House, considered the first Wichita home, gives new meaning to Home on the Range. The creaky wood floor, low ceilings, and smell of the Kansas prairie envelope visitors.
SCOTT CITY
El Quartelejo Museum
The studio’s local Native American and pioneer history continues at the El Quartelejo Museum, where the story of those who settled in western Kansas is told. The El Cuartelejo Ruins, built by the Pueblo Indians in Scott County, are well documented.
Take in exhibits dedicated to the Santa Fe Trail and the cattle industry to learn about how later residents used land as a resource. Photography displays drive home the impact of weather events on local farmers.
COFFEYVILLE
Dalton Defenders Museum
“Give me all the money!” The Dalton Gang consisted of three brothers/cowboys who robbed banks. But they were no match for Coffeyville’s residents who fought back. The Dalton Defenders Museum‘s theater room and exhibits document the story and serve as a tribute to the citizens who died defending the town.
Visitors are encouraged to look inside glass cases housing the gang’s guns, saddles, and swatches of their clothing. Outdoors, a walk down Dalton Death Alley helps one imagine where the outlaws tied their horses before the bank raid.
Don’t leave for a road trip without packing the car with my travel-worthy gear for the ride, which also includes pet-friendly essentials if you travel with your pup.
The contributions of Kansas Department of Wildlife, volunteers, and supporters make Maxwell Wildlife Refuge what it is today, one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography.
Keeping warm with a lap blanket, we listened to volunteer tour guide, Les, inform us about native grasses and wildlife.
The looks on the kids’ faces was precious as each one became captivated by the narrative.
Parents snapped photos and chatted amongst themselves between bites of cupcakes and cookies. Afterward, Santa gifted a holiday-themed goodie bag to each child.
My take-home gift? I purchased postcards featuring photography taken by volunteers. Elk stood statuesque at sunset. Bison graze on prairie grasses under illuminated Kansas clouds.
I couldn’t resist taking my photo with Santa, who was eager to meet me. Perhaps I was the only adult who snapped a photo with the jolly ol’ guy? I felt like a kid again hoping for his approval and excited to tell him my Christmas wish.
You can also 
When visiting Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, consider exploring nearby towns to grab a meal and see the sites.
The region is best known for its covered bridges and awe-inspiring views—towns like Winterset, St. Charles, and nearby Orient offer incredible dining, one-of-a-kind shopping, and unequaled museums.
Spending a weekend exploring Madison County will make you fall in love with it like I did.
I thought the Reuben on marble rye bread, a cup of homemade Strawberry Soup, and a glass of iced raspberry tea was divine. Sharing a towering lemon meringue pie, we chatted about Winterset and the town’s history.
PRO TIP: The eatery is open Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with limited seating. Small groups should reserve a table in advance. Add a few minutes of extra time to your lunch to peruse the restaurant’s displayed antiques – many of which are for sale.
A self-guided tour of Clark Tower was, by far, my favorite discovery. We traversed a narrow, one-mile road by car to the top of a curvy hill en route to it. Built in 1926 in honor of early settlers, the limestone landmark resembles something from a fairy tale.
Another park feature not to be missed includes the whimsical chainsaw sculptures by Iowa artist Gary Keenan. The English Hedge Maze leads to a sundial, and an adjacent bocce ball court invites parkers to play a game.
Nearby Bennett Cabin and Cutler-Donahue Bridge, each built in the 1800s, are photo-worthy attractions.
Seek out the stone bridge for another photo moment. It’s the location where Robert and Francesca’s movie scene was filmed.
PRO TIP: Traveling with kids? Prepare to explore the park and its play features for at least an hour.
Spanning 79 feet, the bridge is within walking distance of the road that winds through the park. You’ll appreciate the stone bridge, also nearby, the site of the movie’s film scene where Robert and Francesca enjoy a picnic.
Parking is available nearby, and the path to the bridge is easy to navigate.
After sampling red and white drier varieties, we ultimately bought a bottle of LaCresent 2021 (2017 Mid-American Wine Competition Silver winner) to bring home.
Whether you drop in for a glass of wine in the tasting room or on the patio overlooking the valley, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. They don’t push wine on you to try, and instead serve you “whichever wine you like to drink.”
At 
During our visit, we chose to sit on the front porch to watch as summer rainstorm clouds developed. I sipped Lime Habanero Hard Cider, which finished sweet and sampled another favorite, John Wayne Bone Dry Hard Cider. Each one tasted crisp with authentic flavor.
PRO TIP: Check the 
You’ll appreciate the scenic view at this one. Like each covered bridge in the county, it was renovated in the 1990s to maintain its beauty.
Unfortunately, the bridge fell victim to arson twice in recent years and had to be reconstructed. The replica reminds us of the sentiment shared by the movie’s characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.
He lived in Winterset until age seven. As a boy, he walked about town with his brother and dog, Duke. Eventually taking on the nickname Duke, the family moved to California in 1914. The actor starred in 170 films.
The first stop? The museum’s theater room for a short film highlighting his achievements. Next, take a self-guided tour of each of the two galleries.
I was curious about the actor’s collection of coffee mugs – he had a keepsake mug made for each movie. Handwritten letters, a car, clothing, and an address book were some of the personal items included in the collection.
PRO TIP: I recommend devoting at least an hour to touring the birthplace home and museum if you like to read each panel. Review the John Wayne In Iowa map showing the family’s moves across the state.
I was impressed to find a basket of free produce available near the checkout counter, which I assumed came from the community garden behind the library outside.
Modern benches with historical references were added to the park. I enjoyed learning about how George Washington Carver wandered into Winterset, where he lived and worked for two years.
An art alley with interactive murals is adjacent to the Madison County Courthouse. Artists James Navarro and Katie Jensen intended visitors to discover ways to pose with the paintings.
We shared a charcuterie board while sipping craft beers as a prelude to dinner. The Drift Salad and Roast Beef Panini served on locally sourced bread made the dining experience exceptional.
PRO TIP: If you’re not a craft beer drinker (21 Iowa beers on tap!), ask about wine and mead selections. Non-alcoholic beers are an option.
A restored 1908 country home turned 
A short drive from dining, shopping, and museums in Winterset, it was perfect for us. We watched the movie The Bridges Over Madison County at night while drinking champagne in a room surrounded by antiques and framed artwork.
The charming home had every comfort we wanted, and to be honest, I loved the experience so much that I wished the house was for sale so we could buy it.
The creak of the original wood floors.The sunset view from the porch. I loved our stay, as will you.
From fresh groceries to retro candy and sodas to home decor and toys, you’ll find something you can’t leave the store without. I purchased a scented candle, Fresh Cut Grass.
PRO TIP: Kids get a free used book when they visit, and the monthly book club selections keep shoppers returning for new reads.
The clothing, shoes, and accessories for sale are on-trend, including the latest seasonal fashions. The inviting store features a stroller parking zone and interactive spaces for kiddos, such as a push-and-listen station (are those bees buzzing?) and a toy treasure box.
In preparation for fall, I noticed an abundance of witchy decor items; however, they may sell similar whimsical gifts year-round.
Seasonal floral picks and sit-a-bouts are arranged in vignettes throughout the store.
Most of the jewelry is handmade by the owner. Silver spoons are crafted into rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Shoppers in search of faith-based finds will appreciate the store’s inventory.
PRO TIP: Like what you see here but can’t make it to the shop? Visit her 
I loved how each houseplant was given a name to make the shopping experience more fun. I couldn’t leave without buying a handcrafted greeting card for our house host.
PRO TIP: Visit the 
We enjoyed a five-sample tasting of wines of our choice while visiting with the owner/winemaker. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the process of wine production from vine to glass while we enjoyed a platter of artisan cheeses, meats, and chocolates with our wine.
I appreciated the aged white cheddar with the dry Rosato red wine. Other favorites included crisp and refreshing Vignoles, semi-dry white Hunter’s Moon, and Red Cabernet.
What started as a jewelry business evolved into a specialty store selling dishes, apparel, gourmet foods, fresh floral arrangements, and more.
Wayward Saints Farm LLC produces goat milk products such as soaps, lotions, and hand-poured soy candles. You may find them at an area farmers market when they are not running the shop.
On the day of my visit, I voted for my favorite quilt, a 3-D pattern, from the collection “Welcome Home: A Celebrate of Quilts.” It was interesting to look closely at the handiwork of quilts dating back to the 1850s.
PRO TIP: The museum installs new 
PRO TIP: If you visit Friday-Sunday, stop next door at the 
Upon our arrival, we followed the path to the kitchen to order our brick oven pizzas and house-made cucumber salad. We walked with craft beers in hand to a table of friendly locals who welcomed us to sit with them.
Live folk music played as we dined on two styles of pizzas and engaged in conversation with our new friends. Inspired by the sunset, we left the table to walk a manicured path through the prairie amongst towering sunflowers and a temporary Prairie Art Exhibit.
The unique experience left an impression on us. After driving back from the event, we vowed to do two things: 1.) Learn how to make fresh tomato compote (delicious on the pizza) and 2.) Take our new friend’s advice for aging well, “Stay active and be social.”
PRO TIP: Bring lawn chairs or a picnic blanket to the event.
The popular cafe serves gorgeous, scratch-made pastries with top-quality coffee. The grab-and-go options like salads, wraps, and bakery items made with locally sourced ingredients.
Craving an old-fashioned cherry Pepsi®, I entered the store and headed to the back, where I discovered a nostalgic scene. Residents sat on bar stools and in booths, enjoying a hot breakfast and discussing the day’s events.
Only a 12-minute drive southwest of Winterset, the park is well-revered by locals for its five miles of trails, picnic areas, and historic 1858 Harmon Tunnel – the only highway tunnel in the state.
The town celebrates the park’s 100th anniversary this year.
FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
It’s time you plan a vacation to Madison County, Iowa.
Disc golf is a popular sport for outdoor enthusiasts in Kansas, and 
Have you heard of geocaching? A treasure hunt using an app to locate a hidden container, participants can enjoy the free outdoor activity at various places in Lindsborg. To start, visit 
The mural pictured below, “Rural Free Delivery,” was painted by Kenneth Adams and installed in the Goodland, Kansas, post office in 1937. The painting and others commissioned by The Section for Fine Arts were created to lift the spirits of people who suffered during the Great Depression. It was one of almost 30 murals commissioned in Kansas.
Another downtown structure that deserves your attention is Elliot’s Inc. (1019 Main St.), a building filled with home furnishings. The original color combination and Mid-Century modern styling stopped me in my tracks as I walked along the sidewalk across the street to view its architecture. What do you think of it?
Without a doubt, Goodland has one of the most good-looking courthouses in the state. The same Art Deco design seen on the United Telephone Building is evident in the Sherman County Courthouse. I love the arched windows over the entry doors and the grille pattern on the windows.
Located nearby the courthouse, “They Came to Stay” deserves a visit. The sculpture by Goodland native, Greg Todd, tells the story of homesteaders on the prairie and their determination to settle on the Kansas plains. Remember, settlers to the area didn’t find trees (no timber for building homes), so they were forced to build their homes using sod bricks formed by hand. It was hard work that required true grit.
The two-room shop is stocked with on-trend home decor and gift items. During my visit, a local woman came in to chat and shop for a gift for someone. It’s the kind of place where you’re bound to leave with a full shopping bag. The owner is a sweetheart willing to help you find something perfect for yourself or someone special.
Just beyond the WWII exhibit, I discovered a museum filled with treasures. The largest was a full-size, automated replica of the first patented helicopter in America. Push the button and watch the blades go! Inspired by the Wright brothers, William Purvis and Charles Wilson built the two-story helicopter in Goodland. The 1910 design was an ambitious one.
A 1902 Holsman rope-driven car is the second-largest exhibit in the museum. It was the first automobile driven in Sherman County and was owned by Dr. A.C. Gulick. The car was meticulously restored. A prominent figure in the community at the time, you will still see the name displayed in town, including a city park named after him.
Of the 8,000 objects on display, a few left me thinking about the early days of Goodland. It was the story of two train robbers.
The house dates back to 1907. Widowed and with daughters, Mary Ennis pushed forward with plans to build the home after her husband’s death. They resided there until 1917. Later, the home became a boarding house and then a funeral home. Eventually, Calvin Handy bought the home in 1956 and stayed in the family until Edythe Handy died in 2000. (Fact: Edythe died in the home’s dining room. Ask more about that during your tour.)
The owner, who also doubles as the cook, has filled the restaurant with antiques from floor to ceiling. Nothing is off-limits at the bar and grill. Bicycles dangle above your head. Road signs cover the walls. The bar is an antique salvaged and transported from San Francisco.
After the film ends, I recommend trying the hands-on, interactive exhibits that teach you about geology, the cowboy lifestyle, and the importance of soil composition. You’ll have a new appreciation of the beautiful Konza Prairie today. An entire floor is dedicated to teaching children about the prairie and its animals. Plan a visit for the family 
Are you interested in booking a free tour? Reserve one 
I fell in love with a number of stunning cars, but two classic vehicles stole my attention. The curves and chrome of the navy blue Hudson made my heart pitter-patter and one look inside the Volkswagon Window Bus’s two-tone green interior and I was squealing with delight. Oh, the road trip I could take in that beauty.
Popular for serving Mexican street food with a twist (the portions are large!), everyone raves about the food. When at Taco Lucha, I strongly recommend ordering “The Nancy,” a beer cocktail made with Old Milwaukee beer and pineapple juice. Everyone orders it! They also make a mean michelada. We made fast friends at the bar while dining on spicy jalapeño poppers, stuffed tacos, and a mega burrito (ask about the “secret menu” options). I plan on trying the popular Raspberry Bean Dip on a return visit.
What I appreciated about the beer menu was that it had a variety of choices for every kind of craft beer drinker from sours to stouts and porters to pilsners. Learn more about downtown’s newest neighbor 
This list of eateries and bars only scraps the surface of the many places there are to eat in Manhattan! Locals gave high praises to 
I’m so glad I returned to Manhattan to experience it like a local after a long hiatus. I’m planning a return trip during better weather conditions to explore the 
For bonus travel recommendations, read my blog post 