About Us

Old Cowtown Museum is an educational institution operated as an open-air living history museum dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of Wichita, Kansas through immersive experiences of life in the late 1800s.

Old Cowtown Museum is owned and operated by the City of Wichita and is supported by the Historic Wichita Cowtown, Inc. (HWCI), a 501(c)(3) advisory board. The Museum is home to over 25,000 historical artifacts and 54 buildings which span 23 acres nestled in Wichita's Museums on the River District.

Many cities have museums - only Wichita has the one-and-only, never-to-be-duplicated-again Cowtown. Wichita's storied past is vividly brought to life through daily activities, special events and education programs.

Step onto Cowtown's dirt roads and enter a world just off the Chisholm Trail that is frozen in an 1865-1880 loop. Connect with history through artifacts in Cowtown's permanent collection, including textiles, furnishings, furniture, tools and art. Cowtown's unique programming tells the story of the city of Wichita's evolution, from a frontier settlement to a cattle town to an agricultural and manufacturing area.

Group Rates

  1. School Groups
  • Group at of people standing around at Old Cowtown Museum$10 - Adults (18+)
  • $9 - Teachers/Veterans/Seniors (62+)
  • $8 - Youth (5-17)
  • FREE - Children 4 and under

Tax is included in ticket prices. For bus tour groups, complimentary admission is given to the bus tour driver and group tour leader.

Contact us about group rate discounts: [email protected]

To schedule a group tour, please call (316) 350-3323.

Land Acknowledgement

Old Cowtown Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on the traditional, ancestral lands of the Wichita and Osage Nations and all Indigenous people who came before us. The process of knowing and acknowledging the land we stand on is a way of honoring and expressing gratitude for those ancestral people. We recognize and seek to advocate for the sovereignty of Native nations and honor Indigenous peoples — past, present, and emerging — and pledge to be more accountable to their needs.

Old Cowtown Museum aims to portray Wichita as it was in the late 1800s, just after Westward Expansion in the United States. Westward Expansion was driven by a combination of factors including economic opportunity, the idea of Manifest Destiny, and government policies like the Homestead Act. This movement dramatically shaped the nation’s geography, economy, and demographics. However, it also had profound and devastating impact on Native American populations, leading to displacement, cultural disruption, and violent conflicts. Understanding westward expansion requires examining both the ambitious drive for growth and the significant human costs it imposed. Old Cowtown Museum strives to portray these stories through exhibits and events, including drawing upon the expertise of our neighbors, the Mid-America All-Indian Museum.

Firearms Safety

Safety and security is of the utmost importance at Old Cowtown Museum and we take the inclusion of firearms in our storytelling very seriously. We are excited to offer performances featuring gun slingers and good ole cowboy gun fights, but we make sure we do so with plenty of safety measures in place. Firearms are routinely inspected, staff and volunteers undergo training, along with several other safeguards.

The City Manager’s office formally requested an audit of firearm safety protocols on June 11, 2023. It began on June 20, 2023. This was done to ensure that safety policies enacted at Old Cowtown were being implemented and followed.  

Following the audit results, Old Cowtown's firearms policy was updated, staff received additional training, and new protocols were implemented. Regularly scheduled gunfights returned to the museum in 2024.

What people are saying about Cowtown:

  • "(Cowtown) truly is unique, genuinely historic, and educational, and just a lot of fun."
    • Allen L., Wichita
  • "Great place for family trip. Really for any age. We happened to go in a Sunday with free entry. Lots of historical information. Highly recommend!" 
    • Rebecca Z., July 2023 Yelp review
  • "This is an ACCREDITED historical museum. That's a big deal, and not something that is easy to receive. Being here, you'll understand why. This is a living history museum that has 44 structures on site (many of them air conditioned) that show visitors what life was like as Wichita moved to an official city. All of the structures are either original donations to the museum, or are structures that existed and needed renovation. They are full of period pieces and artifacts. Depending on when you go, you can see people wearing clothing of the period, blacksmithing and giving oral histories. At less than $10 per person, this is a MUST-DO attraction!" 
    • VanEsq12, July 2023 TripAdvisor review

American Alliance of Museums Accredited Museum LogoHistoric Wichita Cowtown, Inc. works with the City of Wichita to further the Museum and its mission. Cowtown has the distinction of being accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition achievable by a museum. Accreditation recognizes high standards in individual museums and ensures they continue to uphold public trust. Only 3 percent of the nation's estimated 34,144 museums are accredited.

  1. Have a question that wasn't answered here?
  2. Who operates Cowtown?
  3. What should I bring for my visit?
  4. How much time should I allow for my visit?
  5. Does Cowtown offer membership?
  6. Does Cowtown offer AAA Discounts?
  7. Where can I purchase food at Cowtown?
  8. Professional Photography & Film/Video Recording Policy
  9. When was Cowtown established in Wichita?
  10. Is Cowtown accredited?
  11. How many buildings are on Cowtown's grounds?
  12. What is the oldest historic structure at Cowtown?
  13. What is the newest original structure at Cowtown?
  14. Are the items inside the buildings real?
  15. Is Cowtown located on Wichita's original platted town site?
  16. Are animals allowed?
  17. Are strollers and wagons allowed?
  18. Can I bring food and beverages to Old Cowtown?
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