Happy Birthday Cowtown...part one

Did you know Old Cowtown Museum celebrates its 75th anniversary this year!  

Formed in 1950, Historic Wichita, Inc. began what we know today as our museum.  This non-profit corporation took charge of two buildings and sought to restore and later operate them.  These buildings were the church and Hodge House. 

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Two buildings were later added.  The local DAR chapter offered the Munger House.  Also, the local school board sold the first city jail building to Historic Wichita Inc for $1.00.  Our museum began with four buildings on land leased from the Water Department.  To coincide with the world premiere of the movie Wichita, Cow Town opened to the public in 1955. ​

Cow Town became a place known to save and restore nearby old buildings.  John McEwan of Steffen's Dairy purchased a two-story building on North Main; Cow Town had it restored as a Drug Store.  A former township hall was moved onto the site and converted to post office.  Additional buildings formed: barbershop, schoolhouse, fire station, railroad depot.  The picture below is circa 1958.

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