Paid admission includes all of the main museum galleries, four historic structures, three reproduction homes and two large exhibition buildings. And don’t forget to bring your lunch – many visitors enjoy the picnic tables that overlook the beautiful museum grounds

Hours
  • Open: Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Closed: Sunday and Monday
  • Closed: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day
  • Closed at Noon: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Admission
  • $6 for adults
  • $3 for ages 12-18
  • $2 for ages 6-11
  • 5 and under free
Group Tours

The museum offers large groups the option to book a docent to lead a tour. Groups include tour companies, families, scouts, fraternal organizations, and more. Docent guides bring history alive by adding cultural and historical information about the museum’s collection that is not available on the museum’s exhibit panels. Depending on the time constraints of the group, docent led tours can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes. Groups should have a minimum of 10 people and must be booked in advance. Regular admission applies. However, there is no additional cost for a guided tour. Please call 620-285-2054 to make reservations or for more information.

There is plenty of room at the museum for busses to park and turn around.

Contact Us
School Tours

The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum invites schools to bring their students for an exciting and memorable field trip. The basic tour includes the history of the near extinction and recovery of Bison, Plains Indians, the Santa Fe Trail, Westward Expansion and settlement, class in a one-room schoolhouse, and life in a 1919 frame house, soddie home and dugout.   We offer 2 hour, 4 hour, or 6 hour docent led tours.  See the chart below for other tour options and themes.

School tours receive half-price admission and must be booked in advance. Please call 620-285-2054 to make reservations or for more information.

There is plenty of room at the museum for busses to park and turn around.

 

Contact Us
Gift Shop

We’ve recently updated our merchandise.  Our store includes Kansas themes, craft and puzzle sets, toys, stuffed animals, flavored popcorn, candy sticks, and old fashioned soda and cider.  Our books range from Santa Fe Trail history to including local people and places.  Stop by when shopping for gifts or a new book to read!

Contact Us
Facility Rentals

Need a place to hold a meeting? Want to get married in an historic church? Family reunion getting too big for your backyard?

Consider renting space at the Santa Fe Trail Center Museum.  The historic Johnson Street Escue Chapel provides an intimate and memorable location for that special day. We have space for meetings and presentations.  Call 620-285-2054 for more information.

Contact Us

Visitor Photos

We invite you to post your photos on social media and tag our social media pages:

Facebook – Santa Fe Trail Center Museum of Larned, KS

Instagram – santafetrailcentermuseum

TikTok – santa.fe.trail.ce

"Great museum. Well worth taking the path less traveled to visit." Jim Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can we see Santa Fe Trail Ruts at the museum?

    There are no Trail Ruts on the museum grounds. But during your visit, we can provide directions to local sites that do contain ruts.

  • How long does it take to see everything at the museum?

    Visitors can take as long or as short a time as they want to visit the museum. We recommend planning to stay at least two hours to see everything on the museum grounds.

  • Can I bring my dog into the museum?

    While we understand that you may not want to leave your dog in a hot or cold car while you visit the museum, we cannot allow them in the main museum building.  Service animals are allowed and welcomed.  You may walk your dog on our grounds, provided they remain on a leash and you pick up after them.

  • Do you have wheelchairs or strollers?

    There is one wheelchair available to use when visiting the inside of the main museum.

  • Is the museum handicap accessible?

    The main museum is handicap accessible, along with an automatic door at the main entrance.  The outside portion is less accessible for wheelchairs, walkers, or other similar equipment.  Feel free to call us at 620-285-2054 and discuss options for visiting our museum.

     

  • I have an RV with a car trailer towed behind it, is there room for me to park?

    Yes, we have room for you to park in our parking area. However, we recommend that you call 620-285-2054 before you arrive to get directions on where to pull in and turn around when you arrive.

  • Can we take pictures during our visit?

    You are welcome take pictures at the museum for your personal, private, and non-commercial use. If you wish to take photographs for any other purpose, prior written permission must be obtained.

    We invite you to post your photos on social media and tag our social media pages:

    Facebook – Santa Fe Trail Center Museum of Larned, KS

    Instagram – santafetrailcentermuseum

    TikTok – santa.fe.trail.ce

  • Do you have free days?

    The museum does not have regularly scheduled free days. However, during some Special Events, the museum does not charge admission.  Please call 620-285-2054 if you want to check in advance.

  • Do you have bicycle racks?

    The museum does not have bicycle racks. But bikes may be secured to the posts on our front porch. Bicyclists traveling across Kansas are welcome to stop in and use the restroom, get some water from the fountain in our lobby, and access our free Wi-Fi. Admission will still apply if you wish to see the museum exhibits.

  • Is there an admission fee to visit the Trail Shop gift store?

    No, you can visit the Trail Shop without paying admission.  We’ve recently updated our merchandise.  Our store includes Kansas themes, craft and puzzle sets, toys, stuffed animals, flavored popcorn, candy sticks, and old fashioned soda and cider.  Our books range from Santa Fe Trail history to including local people and places.  Stop by when shopping for gifts or a new book to read!

  • What else is there to visit in the area?

    In addition to the museum, there are several wonderful places to visit while in the area:
    Fort Larned National Historic Site – four miles west of the museum on K-156 Hwy.

    Pawnee Rock State Historic Site – 10 miles east of the museum.

    Central States Scout Museum
    Camp Site of George Sibley, Surveyor of the Santa Fe Trail (directions available from museum staff)

    Zebulon Pike Memorial Plaza (directions available from museum staff)