Queen of the Cowtowns

Dodge City, Kansas has a lot of stories to tell but is well known for its Boot Hill. It’s Boot Hill Museum is located on the original site of the cemetery (along Wyatt Earp Blvd!) and provided a great history of the city. 

p.s. During the town’s first year, there were 30 killings, a little alarming since the town’s population was only about 500!

It began as Fort Dodge in 1865 to protect travelers along the Santa Fe Trail. When the bison were being hunted almost to extinction, the hides were sent east from Dodge. Interesting that almost 4 million tons of their bones were also valued and shipped. Then the era of cattle drives brought longhorns north to Dodge. The cattle boom ended in 1885. And then, of course, there are the stories of the lawmen—Earp, the Mastersons, Doc Holliday, and others. 

One of the best known, though, is fictional Matt Dillon played by Jim Arness. There is a huge statue of him outside the Visitor Center. Gunsmoke, the longest running TV western, ran for 617 episodes! And there is a Miss Kitty’s cafe in town. Even the big grocery store (a Kroger store, no less) is called Dillon’s. 

Fred Harvey started the Harvey House Restaurant in the Santa Fe railroad’s depot in Dodge.  He is credited with creating the first restaurant chain in the U.S.  

So, lots of fun history packed into a fairly small city. 

Next up, Taos, NM.