Boot Hill Museum
4.6(3.4K)google
4.4(82)yelp
HistoryIndoor
Overview
The Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City vividly resurrects the chaotic and legendary era of the Old West during the late 1800s. Located on the actual site of the notorious Boot Hill Cemetery, the museum features a meticulous recreation of Front Street, complete with a saloon, general store, and blacksmith shop. Visitors can witness thrilling live gunfight reenactments, enjoy variety shows, and explore thousands of authentic artifacts that tell the gritty stories of lawmen like Wyatt Earp, notorious outlaws, buffalo hunters, and the early cattle drive pioneers.
Practical Info
Every day8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3 hours
Best TimeSummer from June to August is highly recommended, as the daily live-action wild west gunfight reenactments and saloon can-can shows exclusively run during the peak summer schedule. Arrive by 5:00 PM to explore the pioneer law enforcement and firearm history galleries before stepping onto the dirt main street for twilight entertainment.
Getting ThereHoused in downtown Dodge City at 500 W Wyatt Earp Blvd. Drive via US-50 straight into the historic city center, where the highway becomes Wyatt Earp Blvd; the museum's signature rustic boardwalk facade will be on the north side. The facility boasts a sprawling, complimentary open lot built for standard cars and RVs.
Travel Tips
- The signature live Old West Gunfight Shows run promptly at 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM during summer; because the high-decibel blank cartridges produce earsplitting bangs, guests with structural heart conditions or infants must sit in the rear tiers.
- The classic Long Branch Variety Show requires a separate premium ticket tier booked at least one week early; individual seating charts are hard-locked by name, making it impossible to secure walk-up placement at the door.
- The dedicated Wyatt Earp Blvd lot offers free parking but features highly constricted slot geometry; extra-long luxury RVs or trailers are barred from double-parking and must route to the peripheral commercial truck overflow bays.
Reviews
Positive
- If you want to experience the authentic Old West, this is the place; it has fantastic artifact displays and a beautifully recreated frontier town street.
- The live gunfight re-enactments in the summer are stellar, the actors are highly engaging, and the variety show inside the saloon is a must-see.
- The newly expanded main museum building is wonderfully air-conditioned and modern, featuring interactive touchscreens that keep kids entertained.
- The admission ticket is valid for two consecutive days, which is excellent since there are so many buildings and exhibits to absorb fully.
Heads up
- Winter and spring tickets are still pricy, but without the live summer gunfights and saloon shows, the overall value feels significantly reduced.
- The prices for ice cream and drinks inside the saloon are inflated, making secondary spending a bit heavy if you are traveling with a large family.
- Because the outdoor paths mimic the original dirt and gravel roads, pushing wheelchairs or bulky strollers can be quite challenging.
- During peak summer weekends, the core exhibits and old theater get packed to maximum capacity, making it hard to see the stage or enjoy the atmosphere.