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This exceptionally nice mueseum, which shares a building with the public library, is just a few blocks off I-70 in western Kansas. It is well worth a visit.
The museum began as the hobby and private fossil collection of a local rancher and his wife. Most of the fossils in the museum were collected within a 50 mile radius of Oakley. In addition to an impressive display of fossils, other items in the museum include:
Folkart created from Fossils and Rocks
Bead Art and Papier-Mache
Antique Clothing
Antique Merchandise
Local History Items
Large Historical Photo Collection
Sod House, Depot, and General Store
Over 11,000 Cretaceous Period Shark Teeth found in the area
Summer Hours (Memorial to Labor Day):
Mon. - Sat. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM C.S.T.
Sun. 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM C.S.T.
Winter Hours:
Mon. - Sat. 9-Noon and 1-5 PM C.S.T.
Closed Holidays
There is no admission charge but donations are appreciated.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: 700 W. Third Street, Oakley, KS 67748
Phone: (785) 672-4839
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Logan County is very proud of its connection with William F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill," one of the most famous people of all time. Cody got his legendary title as "Buffalo Bill" here in Logan County.
To celebrate this heritage and educate the public the county has erected a very impressive A twice life-sized bronze sculpture of "Buffalo Bill," by Charlie, Norton, near the junction of U.S. 40 W. and U.S. 83 N. In the sculpture Buffalo Bill is mounted on his favorite buffalo running horse "Brigham" in pursuit of a running buffalo, and memorializes an event that took place here in 1868.
Cody made his living as a contract buffalo hunter, feeding the crews laying railroad track across Kansas for the Kansas Pacific Railroad. At the same time William Comstock, who was also called "Buffalo Bill" by the soldiers at nearby Fort Wallace, made his living feeding the soldiers at the Fort.
To determine the real "Buffalo Bill" a contest was staged west of Oakley, in Logan County. Buffalo Bill Cody won 69 to 46 and thus on that spring day in 1868 a legend was born! Over the next few decades "Buffalo Bill" Cody became the most famous person on earth of his time and shaped the world's image of the America's Wild West.
Updated Nov 29, 2006
Phone: (785) 672-4867
Website: www.discoveroakley.com
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This impressive life-size statue of a coyote, entitled Survivor of the Plains, stands on a large rock in front of the Logan County Courthouse. It was erected for the Centennial Celebration of Logan County and the City of Oakley, 1887-1987. The bronze sculpture was created by artist Charlie Norton.
The coyote, sometimes called a prairie wolf, has survived life on the prairies with quick wit and keen senses. This wiry and adaptable animal has extended its range in recent years to cover most of the continuous 48 states.
The rock upon which the statue is mounted is native Logan County sandstone, thought to be millions of years old. The boulder was taken from rock outcroppings near Nickel Mine Spring on a nearby ranch. It is dedicated to the historical heritage of Logan County.
Updated Nov 29, 2006
Address: 700 W. Second Street, Oakley, KS 67748
Phone: (85) 672-4862
Website: http://www.bronzesculpturecnorton.com/wildlife1.htm
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About 20 miles south of Oakley is one of Kansas' most remote landmarks, Monument Rocks, also sometimes called Chalk Pyramids by the locals.
A gravel road leads for about 6 miles off U.S. 83 to these chalk formations which stand on private property, but are open to the public. The setting is on the desolate open prairie, many miles from any buildings or human habitations. Please respect the property by not leaving anything behind, climbing on the rocks, or digging in the area. There are no facilities on the property.
It is believed that more than 200 million years ago, western Kansas was part of a large inland sea that extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, separating the North American continent into two distinct bodies of land. It is believed that the region was warm, that tropical vegetation grew far to the north and sea-animals lived in the warm waters. There is no evidence of swift-flowing tributary rivers and the fossil evidence suggests that animals dying in this inland sea fell slowly to the bottom.
Scientists speculate that after the ocean had dried up and the bottom had risen above the level of the ocean's floor, other deposits made in lakes and by the winds covered these sediments burying them for millions of years. Over the ages, the winds and rains have again laid bare the ocean bottom, blowing and washing the softer sediments away to expose what are now known as Monument Rocks. It has been designated by Congress as a National Natural Monument.
Updated Nov 29, 2006
Website: http://www.washburn.edu/cas/art/cyoho/archive/KStravel/bigrocks/pyramids.html
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Oakley, a progressive little city of 2,173 people (2000 census) is the county seat of Logan County. It is on the high plains of western Kansas at the crossroads of US-83, US-40 and I-70. Most people...
In the area around Oakley, Kansas, signs advertise that town as the birthplace of the "Legend of Buffalo Bill." That does not mean the Buffalo Bill Cody was born here. It was here that he earned the...
A Great Little Town with Pizzaz
Small as the town may be, it makes up for in publicly announcing its featured museum and other ties. Besides the Fick Fossil Museum, it also says Buffalo Bill came from here.
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