Get the Heck Into Dodge!

At least that's what the billboards and brochures say, and we took their advice, traveling from Gothenburg, Nebraska, to Dodge City, Kansas, in a single day's drive. It was the furthest we've gone in one day, and we were happy to see the end of the trail when we pulled into Gunsmoke RV Park. We're staying in Newly's Circle, right across from Festus Parkway.

After a good night's rest, we spent the morning on Damien's school lessons, then set out for a little sightseeing.  We headed down Wyatt Earp Avenue to Boot Hill, where there is a museum and visitor center. At the visitor center we picked up a couple brochures and a couple decks of playing cards, gratis. Kansas had the first state-owned casino (it's just up the highway) and now has a couple more. By law, each deck of cards may be used only once, so the visitors' center has a constant supply of once-used played cards to give away.

The Boot Hill Museum is set up like an historic western town.

Incidentally, Dodge City is situated on the old Santa Fe trail. Thousands of wagons traveled through here. Nearby Fort Dodge was established to protect wagon trains, and a few years later, in 1872, Dodge City was founded .  Named for the fort, it was initially a trade center for buffalo hunters and wagon trains. Then the railroad arrived, and for five years buffalo was the primary "product" shipped out, until the huge herds were destroyed.

Soon, Texas Longhorn cattle were the primary cargo, as Dodge City was the destination of the great cattle drives until 1886, when the drives had ended. Meanwhile, Dodge City had earned the reputation of being the wildest town in the west. It was during these times that lawmen Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp became legends.

Across from the museum is engine No. 1139. The sheer size of this engine is amazing.

Further down Wyatt Earp Avenue, a Longhorn looks over his former domain

and Wyatt Earp stands larger than life.

About 16 miles of the city's streets were paved with bricks in the early years of the 20th century. At intersections, a diagonal pattern of brickwork helped the streets hold up to turning vehicles.

Medallions set into the sidewalks commemorate both local historic figures and actors who starred in the Gunsmoke television series and in movies set in Dodge City.

We enjoyed our brief visit, and the best Internet we've had at any of the RV parks we've stayed at this year, but tomorrow it's time to get the heck out of Dodge.